Burn

by HELEN HARDT

  Just gray. Cold, dark, gray.

  And then someone opens the door, and there’s a sliver of light?

  Yes.

  Who comes down?

  He feeds me.

  Yes, the one who’s missing a toe on one of his feet.

  Yes, that one. He always wears his mask, but sometimes, when the others don’t come, he doesn’t wear black.

  What is he doing today?

  My eyes adjust. He brings me a sandwich. Peanut butter and jelly, I think. He sets it on the floor in front of me, and then he takes the bucket upstairs. He brings it back empty.

  Does he say anything to you?

  No. Not when he comes alone. He only talks when the three of them are together.

  Are you going to eat the sandwich?

  Yes, I always eat what he brings me. Even if I’m not hungry. I’m never really hungry.

  So there’s nothing in the room itself that you can recognize?

  No. Just dark, cold, and gray. Dark, cold, gray.

  Look at the steps. Look at them the next time someone enters. What do you see?

  Just steps.

  Are they carpeted?

  No. Just wooden steps. They’re painted gray, I think. Everything is gray.

  Remember the day you escaped. The one when he left the door open.

  Yes. I’m so tired. Weak. I can hardly walk. All I have is my T-shirt. No pants. But I have to try. So I get up the stairs.

  And what do you see when you get to the top of the stairs?

  I’m in… Is it a kitchen? A little kitchen. I don’t know. I look around a little. I think I pick something up…but then I run. I’m so scared, and I run. I run out the first door I find, in the kitchen.

  Go back. Go back to the kitchen. You said you looked around. Do you see anything in the kitchen? Anything unusual?

  I… I see a briefcase.

  Good. What color is the briefcase?

  It’s brown. Brown leather. Like my saddle at home.

  Anything else?

  Yes. Masks. Black ski masks. Sitting on the table next to the briefcase. And something shiny.

  Do you stop to look at these things?

  Not for very long. But I like shiny things. I pick it up. It’s gold. It’s a circle. It has letters on it.

  You mean it’s engraved.

  Yeah. Letters. T. And something else. I don’t remember.

  Look around the kitchen once more. Do you see anything else?

  No. I drop the shiny thing, and I run.

  Where do you run?

  There’s a door right by the table. A screen door, and then another door that’s locked. But I can unlock it from the inside, and I open it, and I run.

  Again…where do you run?

  I just start running. I’m in grass. I run and I run and I run… And then it’s different. I’m in a field, and now I have clothes on, and I see a house.

  You escaped. But I need you to go back to the house, back where they kept you.

  No! No, I won’t go back there. You can’t make me go back there!

  You have to if you want to find anything else.

  Nothing else! I won’t go back! No! No! No!

  Everything is fine. You never have to go back. You’re not there. You’re on the beach, lying in the sun…

  * * *

  “Relax,” I said. “You’re not there, Talon. You’re here. In Jonah’s house. And you’re safe. Relax and count back with me. Nine, eight, seven…”

  “Six, five, four, three, two, one.” Talon’s voice became calmer.

  “You’re safe here. Now open your eyes.”

  He opened his eyes and then sat up, clearly agitated. “Oh my God. I didn’t know what that thing was at the time. I was just a kid. But it was a cuff link.”

  “It was?”

  “Yeah. It was a gold cuff link. I wanted to keep it. If I found it anywhere else, I would’ve put it in my pocket. But I didn’t have a pocket.”

  “Instead you left it there.”

  “Yes. I threw it on the ground.”

  “You said it had letters on it. One was a T. Can you remember anything else? Maybe the other letters?”

  He shook his head. “I can’t believe I haven’t remembered that until now. It’s all clear as day. There was a T, and then I got scared and threw it down.”

  “Are you sure there was more than one letter?”

  “Yes, I think so. Damn!” He rose from the bed and paced around the room. “Why didn’t I stop and look harder?”

  “Because your first thought was getting out of there, as it should have been. Don’t berate yourself. You were ten. You did the best you could.”

  “Could T be an initial of one of my abductors?”

  “I don’t know,” I said. “But it’s certainly something to look into.”

  “But not Nico Kostas or Milo Sanchez. Neither of the other guys who got the tattoo has those initials either.” Talon raked his fingers through his hair and let out a heavy sigh. “God, Doc, it could be nothing. It could be fucking nothing.”

  “You’re right. It could be nothing. But you did remember something. I tried having you look around the room where they kept you, but you kept saying dark, gray, cold. You were focused on Larry bringing you food, so there really wasn’t an opening for me to get to one of the other guys. So I had to go up the stairs, and we got something. We got another clue.”

  “Yes, I suppose so. What I was really hoping for, though, was to get more physical characteristics. Something to identify the other two.”

  “You’re being too hard on yourself, Talon. You were ten years old, a scared little boy, and all you remember about that place is that it was cold, dark, and gray. It’s a miracle you’ve remembered the things you have. These men were all in black, and it was dark. You may have to face the reality that you may not remember anything else visible. Because it was dark and you were scared, there are a lot of things you probably didn’t notice.”

  “Take me back, then. I’ll try harder. I’ll look around more. I’ll—”

  “Talon,” I said, “I think you need to face the facts that you’ve remembered everything you’re going to remember.”

  “No. There’s got to be something more.”

  “Maybe. But probably not. It’s pretty amazing that you’ve been able to recall what you have. Remember that today all you said about the area was that it was cold, dark, gray. I couldn’t get you to go any further until you went up the steps. Up the steps there was light. You could see. You were frightened, and you wanted to get out of there, but still, you noticed a few things on the table. That’s huge.”

  “But it’s not enough.”

  “It’s a leather briefcase and a cuff link with a T on it. It’s what we have, Talon.”

  “I need more. I need to figure out who the hell these guys are. I need to find them.”

  “Calm down. You need to focus on your healing. I think it’s time we really focused on that. I think you need to take a break from trying to figure all this out.”

  That was easy for me to say, since Jonah had already figured out who one of them was. Once Talon knew that, he would feel better about the whole thing, and maybe he’d decide to give up this quest and focus solely on the life ahead of him.

  “You have a beautiful future with Jade. The future is what’s important. Not the past. Don’t take your eyes off the prize.”

  “I haven’t, Doc. I haven’t.”

  “Have you popped the question to Jade, yet?”

  He shook his head. “No.”

  “Why not?”

  He sighed. “You know why. Because we’re knee-deep into this investigation into the rose and the business card. The thing with Felicia. And now what has happened to you, and how it might be all related… It’s just so much to deal with.”

  “And again, you’re losing focus on what’s truly important.”

  “This is all important, damn it.”

  “I’m not saying it’s not. But what is constant, wheth
er you figure the rest of this out or not?”

  He closed his eyes. “My family. Jade.”

  “That’s right.”

  He opened his eyes. “You always have the right answer, Doc.”

  “I’m not so sure that’s true,” I said. I hadn’t had the right answer for Gina, apparently. Though now I wasn’t so sure.

  “It’s true for me.”

  I opened my mouth to respond when the doorbell rang.

  “I’ll see who that is,” Talon said. “I don’t want you answering the door after what you’ve been through.”

  “I’m fine—”

  He gestured for me to stop. “Nope. I’m getting it.”

  I followed him out anyway. He opened the door to a young man dressed in jeans and a button-down shirt. “I’m looking for Melanie Carmichael.”

  “I’m Melanie Carmichael.” I walked to the door.

  He handed me an envelope. “This is for you. You’ve been served.”

  Chapter Thirty–Seven

  Jonah

  I didn’t like doing it, but I dropped a few Franklins to a guard, asking that Larry be roughed up a bit in the next week. I had no idea whether it would get done or not. I didn’t rightly care. Maybe I was just padding the guards’ pockets, and I was okay with that too. They were more than likely underpaid for their thankless work.

  I probably didn’t need to go to the trouble. Some of the inmates had obviously been taking care of Larry. Child molesters didn’t usually do too well in prison.

  I was pretty okay with that, too.

  I let out a sigh. I had a job to do, one I’d put off for too damned long. I was going to drive back to Snow Creek and stop in town to see Bryce. Our talk was long overdue.

  * * *

  Although Bryce had rented an apartment on the outskirts of town, he was still staying at his parents’ house since his father had gone missing.

  Evelyn Simpson answered the door. She looked pale. “Hello, Joe. What can we do for you?”

  “I’m looking for Bryce. Is he here?”

  She nodded, holding the door open for me. “Come on in.”

  “How are you holding up?” I asked her.

  “All right, for the most part. I just don’t understand what could have happened to Tom. It’s not like him to up and disappear.” She grabbed a tissue out of her pocket and wiped at her eyes.

  Rage seethed inside of me. Evelyn Simpson was a nice woman. She’d fed me many times as a kid, and she continued to do a lot for her family and the community. She didn’t deserve what was about to go down in her life.

  She didn’t deserve it at all, and neither did Bryce.

  “How’s the baby doing?” I asked.

  That got sort of a smile out of her. “He’s good. He’s the only sunshine in my life these days.”

  Hell of a lot of pressure to put on an innocent baby, especially with what was coming. I wasn’t sure what to say to her comment, so I changed the subject. “Is Bryce back in the nursery?”

  “No, he’s out back. Henry’s napping.”

  “Okay. Thanks.” I walked through the house and out to the deck.

  Bryce was sitting at the table, reading. I never knew Bryce to be much of a reader.

  “Hey,” I said.

  He looked up. “Oh, hey, Joe.”

  “Sorry to interrupt.”

  He set the book down. “You’re not. I’ve read the same fucking page twenty times. I’m trying to get my mind off of my dad, but I’m not having much luck.”

  “Your mom doesn’t look good,” I said. “I’m sorry.”

  “It’s taking its toll on her. And me. Thank God for Henry, or I wouldn’t be able to focus on anything.”

  Again the baby. I was really glad that Bryce had Henry. Evelyn too.

  “So no news on him, then?”

  Bryce shook his head. “None. I’ve got some PIs on the job. Thanks again for the loan.”

  “Don’t worry about it. And it wasn’t a loan. It was a gift.”

  “I don’t take charity, man.”

  “It’s not charity, and you know it. I have more than I need. If I can help my oldest friend in the world, I’m going to do it.”

  His PIs wouldn’t find Tom, though. Mills and Johnson hadn’t unearthed him yet, and they were the highest paid investigators I’d ever come across. They’d get him eventually. I had no doubt.

  “Thanks, bro. I will pay you back, but you’re the best.”

  You’re the best. Would he still think that after I dropped the bomb that was hovering over his head?

  “Hey,” I said. “You want to go over to Murphy’s and have a drink?”

  “Nah, not much in the mood. But if you want something, I’m always pouring.”

  “No, I’m good.” I just didn’t want to have this talk with him with his mother inside the house.

  But since he wasn’t moving, and since I wasn’t leaving his presence until this was done, I was going to do it whether I liked it or not.

  “I’ve been wanting to talk to you for a while now.” I drew my gaze away from Bryce. How could I look my best friend in the eye? How could I look anyone in the eye and tell him that his father was a maniacal child molester iceman?

  And of course I had no solid proof, other than Tom Simpson’s birthmark. That was proof enough to me, and I knew it would be for Talon. But for Bryce?

  “I know, bro. Seems like there hasn’t been a lot of time for us to get together. We keep getting interrupted.”

  I’d been happy for those interruptions. They had given me a reprieve from this job I faced now. Something I could no longer put off.

  “I know. I’ve been focused on the ranch, not to mention Talon’s situation. And Melanie.”

  “That’s great. I’m happy for you, man. You seem to have something very special with her.”

  I nodded. “I do.” Another truth I had to tell. I hoped my relationship with Melanie would survive when I told her that I had neglected her phone call the day she was taken.

  “So what is it you want to talk about? Need advice on your love life?” Bryce chuckled.

  God, I wished it were that simple. “This is pretty serious, Bryce.”

  “All right. You’re freaking me out a little.”

  “I’m afraid you’re going to be more freaked out by the time I’m done.”

  Bryce clenched the book he was holding. “Okay, now you’re scaring me.”

  Scared? He should be scared. He’d been living with a psychopath a lot of his life.

  “We think we’ve identified another one of Talon’s abductors.”

  “Really? That’s great.”

  “You see, Talon remembered something about one of his abductors during his therapy.”

  “Yeah? What?”

  “One of the guys had a birthmark.”

  Bryce’s eyes widened. “What kind of birthmark?”

  I cleared my throat. The time of reckoning had come. “A tan birthmark on his upper arm, right below the armpit. Shaped like the state of Texas.”

  “Wow, that’s—” Bryce stood. “No way. You’re not trying to tell me that you think—”

  “Sit down. Hear me out. Please.”

  “You’re accusing my father? The fucking mayor of Snow Creek? One of our finest citizens?”

  “Please. I don’t make these accusations lightly,” I said. “If you have any respect for our friendship of thirty-five years, please sit down and hear me out.”

  “Respect for our friendship? You’re the one with no respect for it. You really think my father could’ve done such a thing? My father raised me. He never laid a hand on me my entire life, even when I was a little piece of shit. This is my father. The man I trust with my life. With my son’s life.”

  God, Bryce’s son. Every time that baby had been left alone with the Simpsons, I had chills. I wanted to drive over to that place and grab the kid and never let him set foot in the house again.

  “I know this is hard to believe. But look at Larry Wade. He was th
e city attorney. No one believed it of him either.”

  “You’re really going to compare my father to Larry Wade? That sick motherfucker?”

  “If what we suspect is true, your father is just as sick, maybe sicker, than Larry Wade.”

  “You, of all people. When my father has been missing for a week now. You want to lay this on my doorstep?”

  I rubbed at my forehead. My head was starting to ache. “Did it ever occur to you to question why your father might be missing now? He knew we were onto him. He’s probably gone into hiding somewhere. We think we’ve identified the third abductor as well, and we haven’t seen hide nor hair of him in months.”

  “Oh, yeah? Who’s the third abductor? Your milkman? Maybe an elementary school teacher?”

  “No. He’s a man named Nico Kostas. You’ve heard me talk to Larry about him. He was dating Jade’s mother, and we think he tampered with her airbag, trying to kill her for insurance money.”

  “You’ve lost it, Joe. Are you listening to yourself? Do you and Talon have such a need for vengeance that you’ve decided to write your own story? This poor Nico Kostas is probably as innocent as my father is.”

  I shook my head. “Your father is not innocent, Bryce. Who the hell else has the exact birthmark Talon described? No one.”

  “That’s not evidence. It’s circumstantial. I bet a lot of people have a birthmark like that. Talon probably saw my dad’s once and made it up. You’re trying to frame my father. What the fuck did he ever do to you?”

  Rage boiled under my skin, and I stood. I had to stop myself from punching my best friend in the jaw. Cool it, Joe. He’s defending his dad. You expected that.

  I took a deep breath and walked toward Bryce. “What did he ever do to me? Nothing. But he kidnapped and raped my brother, man. He killed his own nephew. Open your eyes, Bryce. Your father is a psychopath, and you’re better off now that he’s gone.”

  Bryce backed away. “I never expected anything like this from you. We had the kind of friendship that stories are written about. We could go for years without seeing each other and then get together, and it was like no time had passed. We were up to our old antics, finishing each other’s sentences, laughing at each other’s stupid-ass jokes. That’s the kind of friend I thought you were, Joe.” He shook his head. “I can’t believe I was so wrong.” He raised his fist.