by Lois Kay
“I can’t remember much, but I know he hated me.” Alice paused and hesitated. Her gaze settled on the picture of Sam and Jody. “When I first looked at that picture, I heard his voice in my head. He…he said they should put all queers on a ship and sink it.”
“You told Trishia he said the police wouldn’t believe you because you’re ‘one of them,’” Jody said. “Is that related to what you remember him saying when you saw the photo?”
Alice nodded. “I think so,” she said, avoiding Jody’s eyes. “Do you believe that’s something that can get lost, too?”
Jody thought about that for a moment. “I don’t think so, Alice. Because it’s part of who you are, like your blue eyes and blond hair. You may have forgotten certain things that have happened, but that hasn’t changed who you are.”
Chapter 11
Yarra stared at the laptop screen that was in front of Fiona but angled in a way she could follow whatever Fiona was doing. They had looked at many Facebook profiles in the hope they’d find one that belonged to Alice.
“Maybe we should ask her,” Yarra suggested. “Maybe she remembers if she has an account.”
Fiona nodded. “We could, but I’m not willing to trigger another bad memory today,” she said. She glanced up at Yarra. “First she had that nightmare last night and this morning that…whatever it is they call it. I’d love to find her profile and let the shr…let Lisa know about it so she and Alice can talk about it.”
“I guess that’s not a bad idea.” Yarra stretched and rolled her neck, stiff from sitting at the table for what felt like hours. “So, no Facebook, at least, nothing we can find. What else can we search for?”
“I’ll try some different combinations and plug them into a custom search engine,” Fiona said. Her fingers flew over her keyboard. “I’ll see if anything comes up.”
“Alice Wilson Perth Western Australia,” Yarra read. Her eyes widened when the saw the number of results. “Oh, look, only half a million links to plow through.”
Fiona chuckled and shot her friend an amused look. “It probably would be easier to find you, because you’re the only Yarra I know.” She turned her attention back to the screen and scrolled through the information. “I’m determined to find something,” she said. “Alice is our age, so there has to be a snippet with her name on it somewhere in cyberspace.”
“You’d think.”
“Okay, I want you to answer with the first thing that comes to mind.” Fiona sat back and turned to Yarra. “I’ll ask you a question, and you won’t think about it, just answer.”
Yarra frowned. “Why?”
“Humor me,” Fiona said. “Alright, here goes. When you look at Alice, what kind of sport do you think she’d like to do?”
“Soccer,” Yarra immediately answered.
Fiona let out a soft laugh. “Soccer it is.” She typed in a new search, narrowing her eyes when looking at the screen.
“You sound sure of yourself,” Yarra said.
“Well, I know how you often rely on your intuition, so I guess this could be a somewhat educated half-ass attempt to narrow down our search.”
Yarra laughed and shot her friend an appreciative look. “You’re kind of smart for such a little girl,” she teased.
Fiona snorted. “You’re only three years older than I am, CJ.” She looked up when Jody entered the kitchen. “Hey, Pea. Where’s Alice?”
“Right here,” Alice said stepping around Jody and joining Yarra and Fiona at the table. Alice looked drawn, and it was clear she had been crying, but both Fiona and Yarra pretended to be oblivious. “What are you doing?”
Fiona hesitated and looked at Jody, who gave her an encouraging nod. “I’m trying to find you on the internet.”
Alice’s blue eyes widened. “Oh,” she said. “I’m sure there’s more than one Alice Wilson out there.” There was a hint of disappointment in her voice.
“True,” Fiona said. She looked up from her keyboard. “Without thinking hard about the answer, what’s your favorite sport, Alice.”
“Soccer,” was the immediate response.
Fiona elbowed Yarra in the ribs and chuckled. “That’s what Yarra said.”
“Really?” Alice looked at Yarra in disbelief. “How did you know that? I didn’t even remember until Fiona asked.”
“Yarra runs on gut feelings,” Fiona explained. “Most of the time her intuition is scarily spot on.”
“Nice job, Fi,” Jody said. She turned to Alice. “Are you comfortable with Fiona and Yarra asking you questions?”
Alice had to think about that for a moment. “I…I think so,” she said. “It’s a little scary, though.”
Jody took a seat at the table. “What is the scary part?” she asked gently.
Alice swallowed hard, and her fingers played with a coaster. “Part of me wants to remember everything, but…the scary part is not knowing if my brain short-circuits again. I know Lisa told me I’m safe here and I know I am,” she quickly added. “But my memories are not exactly happy ones, and I don’t…This morning was scary.”
Jody nodded, and her eyes were pensive. “If Fiona manages to find something that is related to you, would you like to know?” she asked.
Alice stared at her hands. “I don’t know.” Her voice was soft. “I’m not sure what will happen. I may freak out again.”
“If she finds some information, would you feel more comfortable to talk about it with someone else first? With me, or Lisa?” Jody covered Alice’s fidgeting fingers with her hand. “It’s okay, Alice. We all understand if it’s too much. We want you to feel safe here and don’t do or say anything that would make you uncomfortable.”
“Jody’s right, Alice,” Fiona said. “If I find anything, and that’s a big if, I could save it in a file and keep it there until you’re ready.”
Alice nodded and shot Fiona a grateful look. “I’d like that,” she said. “You wouldn’t mind?”
“Of course not,” Fiona answered. “Yarra and I would do anything to help you. Right, CJ?”
Yarra nodded and sent Alice a warm smile. “Absolutely.”
“Besides, you’re part of the clan now,” Fiona said matter-of-factly, not missing Alice’s surprised gasp, but deciding to ignore it. She looked up at Jody and grinned. “We need to celebrate that with ice cream.”
Jody shook her head, but she was smiling. “How come I’m not surprised? I swear you and Sam keep the ice cream industry in business.”
“Do you have mango ice cream?” Fiona sounded hopeful.
“Is water wet?” Jody quipped, making Yarra and Alice laugh.
Fiona nodded. “It was last time I checked.” She cast a look at Alice. “Do you like ice cream, Alice? Sam claims it’s a food group because it contains fruit and dairy.”
“Sam’s delusional,” Jody said, getting up from her chair.
Fiona grinned. “But you love her anyway.”
“I do.” Jody smiled and dropped a kiss on top of Fiona’s head. “The ice cream is in the freezer in the garage. Leave some for Sam.”
Fiona looked up at Jody and nodded. “Where are you going?”
“Checking up on Mom. She had a headache and was going to try and take a nap. I want to know if she needs anything.”
“Okay. We’ll be right here in the kitchen,” Fiona said. “Not just because it has the biggest table, but we’d like to be close to the food.”
Jody chuckled and playfully pulled Fiona’s ear. “You’re such a brat.”
Fiona grinned. “But you love me anyway.”
“That, I do,” Jody said before she disappeared into the hallway.
Fiona pushed her laptop over to Yarra and stood up. “I’m going to get ice cream,” she said. “Feel free to keep digging. I’ll be right back.”
After Fiona had left, the kitchen was quiet. Yarra looked from Alice to the laptop and back again. Alice was pale and looked tired, but also less tense than she had been earlier. Her face held a thoughtful expression, and her blue
eyes were looking at Yarra with curiosity.
“Is…have you known Jody long?” she finally asked. “And Sam,” Alice quickly added.
Yarra nodded. “I’ve known Jody for years, ever since Fiona and I became friends. At first, I didn’t see her a lot, because of what was going on with her dad.” Yarra noticed the questioning look, and she shrugged. “It’s not my story to tell. Sorry.”
“That’s alright, I understand.” Alice sent her a hesitant smile. “I’ve never…she’s so sweet,” she said with a sigh.
Yarra laughed. “Yes, she is. I think Jody is one of the kindest people I know. She has a way to put people at ease, and she really cares. Sam is awesome, too. Sam is generous, kind and funny. And very protective of Jody,” she added with a chuckle. “They’re so cute together.”
“Do you think…she told me again I can stay here if I’d like to.”
Yarra nodded. “And she’d never offer anything like that if she didn’t mean it.”
“I can’t help wondering if Sam…what if she doesn’t agree?”
Yarra saw the mixture of hope and fear in Alice’s eyes and her heart went out to her. “Sam totally agrees.”
“How do you know?”
“I saw how they looked at each other before Jody offered you a place to say. Sometimes it’s like they don’t need words when they talk. It’s amazing.” Yarra let out a soft laugh. “They’re truly meant to be together.” Yarra leaned on the table and her gaze caught Alice’s. “You don’t have to worry, Alice. Even if we’ll never completely figure out your past, you do have a place to stay. A home.” Yarra smiled. “Fiona spends a lot of time here, and I live down the road, so you already have two friends as well.”
*
Peter Jones finished talking with his wife, which had made him feel better. Alice’s story had been unsettling, and in addition to feeling sad, he had also been incredibly angry. Alice’s recollection had made it clear they were dealing with a ruthless psychopath, and Peter wanted to protect her. Alice had lost her family, and he could only hope that if anything ever happened to him someone would be willing to keep his children from harm.
The sound of a car engine made Peter tense, but when he saw a familiar van and the solid figure of his brother behind the steering wheel, he relaxed. Peter grinned when Kurt came flying from around the corner of the house and positioned himself next to the van, on the driver’s side. When the door opened, and Michael Jones appeared, Kurt growled.
“Hey, Mike,” Peter said with a grin. “Meet Kurt.”
Michael Jones shot Peter a nervous glance, and it was clear he was reluctant to move, much to his brother’s amusement.
“Kurt, it’s okay, boy.” Sam sounded slightly out of breath when she appeared. “I’m so sorry,” she said, walking to Michael Jones, her hand extended. “You must be Michael Jones, Peter’s brother. I’m Sam Stevens,” she introduced herself. Her hand disappeared in a larger one when she shook Michael’s hand. She cast a look at the grinning Peter and shook her head. “Your brother Peter is an ass,” she said with a laugh.
“She did the same to me, Mike,” Peter said. He walked toward his brother and slapped him on the back. “Kurt scared the crap out of me when I arrived today.”
Michael Jones eyed the German Shepherd with appreciation. “He seems well-trained for such a young dog.” He looked at Sam and grinned. “Why do you need my surveillance system when you have a dog like this?”
“Because I haven’t been able to train him to take pictures,” Sam quipped. “I’m glad you could make it, Michael. It’s not like I did give you a lot of notice.”
Michael shrugged. “No worries, Sam. Pete explained the urgency, so, here I am.” He looked around, scanning the area. “I can already see a few excellent spots to put up a camera,” he said. “Having such a large clearing around the house makes it a lot easier.”.
“Great,” Peter said. “The sooner we get that stuff up, the better.”
“It’s good thing I already had all the equipment you need. Hey, Lucy. Hi, Trish,” he greeted. “How are you doing?”
Trishia and Lucy appeared, holding hands as they strolled over to the van. “I’ve been better, Mike,” Trishia answered. “But I’m sure your gadgets will be able to take away some of my worries.”
“That’s the plan, Trish,” Michael said. “It’s a great system, and I’ll make sure the most critical areas will be covered and up and running before the end of the day. I need to borrow my little brother though if you don’t mind.”
“We’ll all help, Michael,” Sam said. “Just tell us what to do.”
*
It was late. True to his promise, Michael Jones had installed wireless, solar-powered security cameras at strategic areas around the property. It had taken him and Peter, with help from Sam and Trishia most of the day, but the system was up and running before the last light of the day had faded. Sam was pleased. She knew she could expect a hefty bill, but she didn’t cut corners when the safety of her family was at stake.
After a late dinner, Peter and Michael had left, dropping Yarra off at home. Trishia and Lucy had retreated to the guesthouse, and the rest of the family had relaxed for a while, before heading to bed. It had been a long day, and everyone was more than ready for some well-deserved sleep.
Sam had walked around the house one more time, inspecting all windows and doors, while Jody checked up on Alice before they both sank into the comfort of their bed.
“I’m bushed,” Sam said, turning on her side so she could face Jody.
“So am I.” Jody shifted around until she was comfortable and sent Sam a warm smile. “I was ready to go to bed halfway through the day,” she confessed.
Sam chuckled. “I have to admit, so was I. Do you think we’re getting old?”
“One day, hopefully,” Jody said, suppressing a yawn. “Not today, though, love. We’re tired because we didn’t get much sleep last night.”
“Tell that to my body,” Sam grumbled.
Jody frowned. “Are you alright? I know your impromptu hike this morning did leave you with some scrapes and bumps. Does your leg hurt?”
“Just a little achy.” Sam smiled and twirled a strand of Jody’s hair around her finger. “Nothing an eight-hour nap can’t fix.” She gently tugged Jody’s hair. “I’ll be fine. Right now, I’m a little worried about you.”
Jody’s gaze met Sam’s, and silently they stared at each other until Sam crossed the short distance between them and softly kissed Jody. “I know you were there when Alice talked to Trishia and Peter. We haven’t had the opportunity to talk about it.” Sam paused for a moment to brush her lips across Jody’s cheek. “You were upset.”
“I was. I still am,” Jody breathed. “Alice’s story is heart-wrenching. And if what she’s going through isn’t enough already, she had to do it all alone.” Jody bit her lip and only became aware of the tear that had slipped from the corner of her eye because Sam caught it before it could roll down. She moved until she could bury her face in the crook of Sam’s neck and a soft moan of pleasure escaped when Sam’s arms settled around her and held her close.
“Do you want to talk about it?” Sam’s voice was close to her ear, causing goosebumps to erupt all over Jody’s skin.
Jody nodded, and after breathing in deeply, she told Sam what Alice had revealed during her meeting with Trishia and Peter. Every now and then she paused to clear her throat from a constrictive lump. When she told Sam about Alice’s little brother, her voice trembled and she pressed her face into the fabric of Sam’s shirt.
Sam could feel Jody’s distress and, without releasing her hold, rolled on her back, pulling Jody on top of her. She held her close, blinking away tears that were blurring her vision. “It’s okay. I’ve got you,” she whispered.
“It’s so incredibly sad, Sam.” Jody’s voice was muffled and thick with tears.
Sam swallowed hard before responding. “Yes, it is. Does she remember if she has any family?”
Jody shook her
head. “She remembers her dad died in a car accident when she was nine or ten years old. She doesn’t believe she has any family left.”
“Maybe that’s true.” Sam couldn’t hide the sadness in her voice. “You’d think somebody would have reported her missing. Unless—.” She didn’t finish her sentence.
Jody lifted her head and shot Sam a puzzled look. “Unless what? What are you thinking, right now?”
Sam shrugged. “I’m…it’s hard to believe there is absolutely nobody in Alice’s life who wouldn’t miss her. Even if she doesn’t have blood relatives, you’d think she’d be missed from school, by friends, neighbors.”
Jody reached out and traced a finger across Sam’s furrowed brow. “Your brain has just jumped in overdrive,” she said. “What’s going on in there?”
“What if the…person from her nightmare and this morning’s memory erased Alice’s tracks? I mean, Fiona has not been able to find a Facebook account, and I find it very unlikely that a teenager doesn’t have an account these days. I’m just as frustrated as Fiona is, there has to be some information somewhere.” Sam slowly exhaled. All traces of sleep were gone. “What if someone deleted her account? You said that Alice’s mother had been in a relationship with this guy that tried to choke her. He may have known how to access her information and deleted everything.”
“Why would he do that?”
“Because he didn’t want anyone looking for her. He’s the one who is trying to find her because she knows who he is and what he did. She’s a threat to his freedom. If she remembers everything, including his name, he’d eventually end up in prison.”
“Even if that would be the case and Alice has no family and no friends, at least a school would be missing her,” Jody said. “They keep track of attendance. I don’t understand why they didn’t miss her after the fire.” She paused for a moment. “Unless she’s homeschooled.”
Sam let out a frustrated groan. “This is making my brain itch. I have too many questions and no answers.” She tightened her hold on Jody. “I hope they’ll be able to dig up information about that fire. What if everyone thinks Alice died?”
