Broad Daylight

by A. M. Wilson

“Oh?” Out of the corner of my eye, I spot Mom giving Dad a look. “I’m so sorry, honey. I know that can’t be easy on you.”

  I pop the top to my beer and toss the cap in the trash before taking a healthy swig. I wipe my mouth with the back of my hand. “No, it isn’t. But it won’t be that way for long because I’m going to find her and bring her back.”

  Mom eyes my beer as I take another swallow. “Are you sure you should be drinking that so early? It’s only two in the afternoon.”

  Her words almost make me laugh. No matter how old I get, Mom will always feel like she needs to mother me.

  “It’s only one beer.”

  “One beer can easily turn into two, three, or four. Especially in your situation.”

  “My situation?”

  “You know what I mean,” she answers gently. “These past few weeks haven’t been easy on you. Some people use alcohol to numb the pain and dull the memories. You’ve been drinking a lot lately, and I don’t want that to happen to you.”

  I frown and look down at the bottle in my hand. Have I really been drinking that much? Enough for my mother to think I may be developing a problem? I don’t drink to dull the pain because it doesn’t work anyway. There’s nothing that can take away the pain of what Dani and I endured. I drink because…

  Hell, I don’t even know.

  Walking over to the sink, I pour the rest of the bottle down the drain. After depositing it in the trash, I turn and face Mom. “Happy now?”

  At the hurt look on her face, I know my tone came out harsher than I intended. I look down at my shoes, and my shoulders rise as I pull in a deep breath. I need to check myself. Each person in this kitchen has been walking around on tiptoes since I was released from the hospital for fear of setting me off. My emotions have been out of whack the past couple of weeks because I’ve felt Dani slipping away from me. These people, my family, have been nothing but supportive, and I’ve returned that by becoming an asshole.

  Looking up, I walk over to Mom and pull her into my arms. Over her shoulder, I find Tori’s eyes on me. She looks angry, and I don’t blame her. I’m a bastard for the way I’ve been treating the people in my life. Niko has been the only one brave enough to put me in my place on several occasions. Aislin and their kids have been the only ones who have been able to bring out the softer side of me lately, and that’s only because Niko would knock my teeth down my throat if I were ever anything but nice to them.

  “I’m sorry,” I tell Mom, then look at my sister before moving my eyes to Dad. “I’ve been an asshole lately, and you guys don’t deserve that.”

  Mom sniffs and wipes her eyes as she pulls back. “Don’t apologize. You’ve been through a terrible ordeal. We all understand that.”

  “It doesn’t give me the right to treat you guys the way I have.”

  “Then stop.” Ever the straight talker, Tori inserts her two cents.

  A laugh escapes me, and I grab the front of her shirt and tug her until she falls against my chest. She snuggles against me, and I have to admit, it feels nice to have her there. Our family has always been big huggers, but ever since I woke from the hospital, I’ve been standoffish, not letting anyone get too close physically and mentally.

  I close my eyes and rest my chin on the top of Tori’s head. I’ve been doing the same thing Dani’s been doing. Pushing away the people I love the most.

  That stops now.

  I let Tori go, then she whacks me in the stomach with the back of her hand. “Stop being all mushy, or you’re going to make me cry.”

  I laugh and ruffle the top of her head. “That’s ’cause you’re a sissy.”

  Playful fire sparks in her eyes. “I’ll show you who’s a sissy.”

  Just as I dodge the punch intended for my gut, my phone dings an incoming text. I snatch it from the bar and pull up the app.

  Niko – Need you down at the station. More intel came in.

  I shoot him a reply.

  Me – On my way.

  “That’s Niko. He needs me down at the station.”

  Worry lines crease Mom’s brow. “Is everything okay?”

  I pocket my phone. “Yeah. He just has more info to go over with me. I’m sure everything is fine.”

  “Tell that boy of ours to come over for dinner,” Dad says. “And tell him to bring my daughter-in-law and my grandchildren with him.”

  I slap his back as I pass by him. “Will do.”

  Grabbing my keys, I walk out the door, both anxious and dreading what Niko has to tell me.

  Walking into the station, I immediately spot Niko talking to the officer behind the front desk. Noticing my approach, he jerks his chin to the side in an indication he wants me to follow him before turning to walk away. I quickly catch up.

  “What have you found out?” I ask, easily matching his strides as he leads us across the room.

  “Let’s wait until we get to Cap’s office.”

  From the hard set of Niko’s jaw, it’s a good thing we’re only a few feet away because I doubt I could wait long to know what he knows.

  Niko taps on the door but doesn’t wait for permission before he’s entering the room. Not only is the captain inside, but so is Tavers, the DA, Mitch Anderson, who I’ve met a couple of times, and another gentleman I’ve never met before.

  “Reece, thanks for coming in on such short notice,” Captain Morgan says. “Please”—he gestures to a chair—“take a seat, and we can get started.”

  I cross my arms over my chest. “I’d rather stand if it’s all the same to you.”

  “Suit yourself.” He glances at the unknown man. “This is Agent Henderson with the FBI. He has some information he needs to share with us. Ordinarily, we wouldn’t include you in this conversation yet, Reece, but seeing as how it could affect you, I thought you deserved to be here. Detective Lawrence was invited as well, but she’s taken an extended leave of absence and is out of town.”

  The joints in my hands twinge from clenching my fists at the reminder. Feeling Niko’s gaze on the side of my head, I choose to ignore his inquiring look and turn my focus to Agent Henderson when he starts talking.

  “As you all know, Naomi Stone, AKA Bolt, along with several other aliases, recorded Mr. James and Detective Lawrence’s time while in her captivity. The live feed went to a website called Bolt’s Insidious Playground. The website has been on the FBI’s radar for seven years. We’ve never been able to pinpoint the location of the live feeds because the IP address was constantly changing. Any time we thought we had a lock on an address, we were led to a dead end. It wasn’t until Mr. James and Detective Lawrence were located that we managed to close that gap.”

  This is information I was given weeks ago. My blood pressure still escalates thinking of people getting off and paying to see what was done to us.

  Agent Henderson continues.

  “This website caters to people with certain… dark sexual tastes. Watchers place bids on activities they want the victims to perform, no matter how vile and repulsive. The highest bidder wins.”

  Again, this is nothing new.

  “It wasn’t until recently that we were able to confirm that Naomi Stone was indeed the creator of the website. For the past several weeks, we’ve been trying to locate the bidders and victims.”

  I drop my arms to my sides. “Have you been successful?”

  The agent picks up a thick folder from the desk he’s leaning against. “We’ve arrested twenty-three of the fifty-six active bidders and have been able to locate thirty-two of the victims. Unfortunately, nineteen of the victims were unidentified bodies already in the FBI database. We were able to confirm them through advanced recognition software.”

  “How many victims have there been?” Tavers asks.

  “Sixty-seven.”

  “Jesus Christ,” Tavers mutters, and I silently repeat his sentiment. Sixty-fucking-seven lives Bolt took and ruined.

  “We’re still vigilant in our search for the remaining victims.”

 
; “You said active bidders,” I state. “I assume there have been more over the years?”

  The agent’s eyes move to Captain Morgan for a moment before coming back to me. “IT is still going over the hard drive, but so far, the count has reached over a thousand.”

  The blood drains from my face, and bile rises in my throat, forcing me to take several deep breaths to keep the vomit down. I hope every one of those fuckers who placed bids pay with their life. After they sit in prison and receive their own dose of medicine from the convicts who detest people like them.

  It’s Mitch Anderson’s turn to talk, and he does so directly to me. “I know there’s been some concern over if you would be charged for killing Naomi Stone. Due to the extenuating circumstances, there will be no charges brought against you as you acted out of self-defense and for the protection of Detective Lawrence.”

  I know Niko’s been worried about this, but honestly, I’d do it all again, even if I knew I would be arrested. Taking that crazy bitch out was worth any price I may have to pay.

  A grunt is my only reply.

  “What happens next?” Niko asks.

  It’s Agent Henderson who answers. “We continue to search for the remaining victims and the bidders. Unfortunately, as of last night, it looks like someone else is trying to take up the reins. A new live video popped up. It was only up for ten minutes before the feed was cut. It showed two women locked in what looks like an old jail cell.”

  “Fuck!” Niko spews, turning on his heel and roughly slashing his hand through his hair. He spins back. “Let me guess, the IP address changed too quickly before you could lock down the location?”

  “Correct. My team has been working on it since late last night.”

  “Let us know if there’s anything we can assist you with,” the captain offers.

  “We may be taking you up on that sooner than you think. The heads of the Bureau are on our asses to get this new perpetrator found immediately, and I plan to follow through on that order.”

  A few less important things are gone over before the meeting is wrapped up. Stress and worry eat away at my guts as Niko, Tavers, and I walk out of the office and head toward the front doors. The three of us stop on the top step and stand there quietly for several moments.

  “Have you had any luck finding Aislin’s child?” I ask.

  The last I heard was that Niko, along with Captain Morgan, paid a visit to Clem Stewart in prison but weren’t able to get a word out of him. The search so far has been fruitless. As far as I know, Aislin still doesn’t know. Niko wants to stave off that worry until he has concrete proof that the child is still alive and knows his whereabouts.

  I glance over at him when his head drops and his shoulders droop. He looks like he’s aged ten years in the short five weeks since Dani and I were rescued. Dani’s and my ordeal may be over, but Niko’s isn’t. Not with the knowledge hanging over his head that Aislin’s child is still out there, and he doesn’t know what he’s been through.

  “The call came in this morning with an address in Mayfield.” He lifts his head, and some of the stress lines smooth out. “His name is Benjamin. As far as I can tell, he’s been well-cared for his whole life. The Patricks, the couple who has him, are upstanding citizens with no records. They have two other children; one older and one younger than Benjamin.”

  “It’s about damn time we’ve gotten good news.” I slap his back. “So why the long face?”

  He sighs, switching his gaze from the parking lot to me. “It’s excellent news, but it’s still going to break Aislin’s heart. She believed her child died in that room. For her to know he’s been alive this whole time is going to hurt like a bitch.”

  “It should give some comfort to know he’s been taken care of.”

  He nods, moving his eyes to stare off into space again.

  “You could always choose not to tell her,” Tavers suggests, and a part of me agrees with him.

  “I thought about it, and as much as I worry this will set her back, I can’t keep this from her.”

  “It’s a tough choice to make.”

  Niko grunts at Tavers’ comment.

  We turn quiet again before Niko turns to Tavers. “How’s Mindy?”

  I don’t have to look at Tavers to feel the sadness rolling off him. It’s a damn shame what he and Mindy are going through. Fucking cancer has taken far too many lives.

  “Not good,” Tavers answers, his voice cracking on the words. “The doctor informed us yesterday she only has a few weeks left.”

  “Shit. I’m sorry, man.” Niko grips his shoulder and squeezes. “Aislin and I are here for a few more weeks if and when you need us. If you’d like, we can take Shelly for a few hours to give you alone time with Mindy.”

  “Me too. And I know Mom, Dad, and Tori would say the same,” I say, my heart breaking for him.

  “Thanks,” he mutters.

  “Why in the hell are you here? You should be with her,” Niko says.

  “I came in to let Cap know I was taking some time off when he told me there was more news to share. I’m heading home from here.”

  Niko pulls Tavers into a backslapping hug. “You call if you need anything.”

  “Will do.”

  Reece and I watch as Tavers walks down the station steps, his shoulders hunched as if the weight of the world resides on them. With the pain he’s going through, I’m sure he feels like it is.

  “I fucking hate this for him,” Niko remarks quietly.

  I nod in silent agreement.

  “How are you holding up? Did you know Dani left?”

  I release a drawn-out sigh. “Found out a couple of hours ago. She changed her number and made her family promise not to tell me where she is.”

  “Give her some time. She’ll be back.”

  Everybody keeps saying that, but it doesn’t do shit to make me feel better. I feel like I’m missing an important organ in my body. The one that sits behind my sternum that’s supposed to give me life but is sitting dormant.

  “She will,” I say with vehemence. “Because I’m going to give her no choice.”

  30

  Dani

  With the hot cup of coffee warming my hands, I lean my elbows on the wooden railing and stare out at the mountains in front of me. Montana is beautiful this time of year when the leaves are just starting to turn fall colors. It’s been a long time since I’ve been out west, to this cabin in particular, and I’ve never spent more than a few weeks at a time here, but I remember the peacefulness and serenity, two things I could use in abundance right now.

  As nice as the past couple of weeks have been, I still wake at night, covered in sweat, my body shaking, and the screams from my nightmares filling my ears.

  I think back to the conversation Reece tried to have with me the night before I bolted out of town. As much as I hated to hear it, I knew he was right. While I was in the hospital, I put off the doctors any time they mentioned seeing a psychiatrist. I hated the thought of talking to a shrink about what happened to me in that dark and cold room. But I knew it needed to be done. It took me some time, and deep down, I already knew that I needed help. I can’t overcome this on my own. The mental wounds run too deep. Not to mention, I won’t be able to return to work until I go through and pass a psych evaluation.

  Lifting my cup to my lips, I carefully take a swallow of the hot liquid before I set it down on the railing beside me. My thoughts move more firmly to Reece. I’ve tried over the past couple of weeks to eradicate him from my mind, but no matter how hard I push thoughts of him away, the clearer his image appears. Even if I can only admit it to myself in my head, I miss him. I miss him so damn much. I’ve tried dredging up the hatred I used to feel for him, but that feeling just isn’t in me anymore. I guess almost dying with someone, no matter how painful of a past you may have with them, negates the old pain and bitterness.

  Leaving Reece and coming here to Montana was one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do, but it was for the best.
For both of us, but mainly for me. Back in that basement, despite the shit we both went through, old feelings resurfaced. Feelings I’m too scared to name, let alone feel. Reece nearly broke me when we were teens. If he hurt me again in the same way, I know deep in my gut I wouldn’t survive. So I left and have no plans to go back until I get my shit together and can face him without the threat of my heart being broken for the second time in my life.

  I thought about leaving for good, but my parents need me, and so do Madison and her kids. I can’t leave her to take care of Mom and Dad alone.

  The door behind me opens, only for it to close a second later. A soft blanket settles over my shoulders, and I’m grateful for the added warmth it brings against the chilly air.

  “You’re going to catch a cold. How many times do I have to tell you to stop coming out here without putting on something warm?” a gravelly voice asks in my ear before an arm comes around my waist and his chin rests on my shoulder.

  I laugh lightly. “Probably every day since I’ve been here and will continue until I leave. I get hot during the night. The air helps cool me off.”

  His chuckle tickles my ear. “Were you this stubborn when you were a kid?”

  “More so.”

  “Why does that not surprise me?”

  With a smile, I turn around and lean back against the railing. Decker’s lips, surrounded by a scruffy beard, twitch. He takes a step back, setting his butt on the edge of the patio table, and grabs the cup of coffee he must have set there. He raises it to his lips.

  “Wait!” I call, lifting my hand. “That pot was—”

  Too late, he’s already taken a hefty swallow, then immediately spits it out.

  “Decaf,” I finish, barely managing to hold in my laugh.

  “Shit,” he curses, shooting daggers at the contents in the cup. “How in the hell do you drink this shit?”

  I shrug and reach back for my own cup, lifting it to my lips and saying over the rim. “It’s not that bad.”

  “No, it’s worse. We need to start labeling the pots.”