After a few seconds, Parker stopped the car again and gestured. “How about here?”
“I don’t know. It could be . . . I can’t be sure.”
“That’s fine. Just one more thing: Did you come straight out of the woods or on an angle?”
“Straight out,” Chrissy answered.
Parker nodded and spoke into his radio: “All right, boys, let’s start the search right here.”
In seconds, officers exited their cruisers and lined up along the road. Parker left Chrissy in his cruiser, took control of the scene, and dispatched his men to comb the area. Then he went off on his own looking for clues. This was routine for him. He was accustomed to inspecting crime scenes in wooded areas, having worked for the DEA as part of a task force that raided forests and cornfields in search of marijuana farms.
His keen eye quickly spotted a trail of broken twigs and crushed brush. Following it twenty yards deeper into the woods, he found a tire iron lying on top of a bed of dead leaves. Donning plastic gloves, Parker bent down and picked it up.
CHAPTER 46
I don’t know which one of us is more worked-up. Troyer hasn’t said a word the whole ride over to Lakewood. He just keeps staring straight ahead, shaking his head, and humming from way back in his throat. My heart’s thumping, and I feel like I’m gonna puke any second. But then, as I turn down the private road that leads into the camp, I get this weird feeling like I’m coming home or something, and a calmness comes over me. I mean, I really did love this camp when I was a kid.
I pull up to the main building and stop.
“Okay, Troyer, where is she?”
Troyer doesn’t say anything. He just keeps shaking his head from side to side, all spacedout and shit.
“I said, where is she?” This time I push his shoulder and yell at him.
He reaches up, refocuses the rear view mirror so we can see each other, and that toothy grin just appears out of nowhere.
“You say something, Tommy Boy? Not quite sure I heard you, mate.”
“You heard me, Troyer. We’re here, so let’s get Aurora and book.”
“In due time, my friend—in due time. First, I’m sure you want to explore a bit. You haven’t been here in many years, and I know you must have some fond memories. Isn’t there a place or two that is near and dear to your heart?”
“Cut it out, dude. You could give a shit about what I’m feeling.”
“Oh, but I do, Tommy Boy, I do. Think of me as a friend who is helping to free you from all those things that hold you back.”
I look at Troyer like he’s nuts. “Hold me back from what?”
“Releasing your inner demons, mate, of course. And it all starts here.”
“So now you’re my shrink? Look—I’ve got no demons. Just bring me to Aurora. I don’t have time for your games.”
“There’s always time, my friend—always. Humor me, and I promise it will lead you to what you seek.”
“Fuck you!’”
“Come now, mate. I’m sure you remember telling me all about this place the night we first met.” Troyer snickers, holding back a full-blown laugh. “Perhaps you don’t recall how much you disclosed to me, considering all the tequila you consumed.”
When he says that a light flashes in my head, and I try to think back to the night he saved my life. I remember him telling me about his troubled childhood, but not much after that.
“Ahh, Tommy Boy. I see that spark in your eyes.”
“Spark nothing, I have no idea what you’re talking about.” The fact is I really don’t remember what I told him.
“Are you sure you don’t remember, Tommy Boy? Think real hard. It will dawn on you.”
“What will dawn on me? What the fuck are you talking about?” At this point, I’m so confused, my head spins. Then, in a moment of clarity it hits me. Troyer must have spiked my tequila that night.
Anyway, Troyer just looks into my eyes for a second and tilts his head to the side. Without another word, he turns, struts all robot-like past the main office, and heads up the hill toward the bunks. Of course I follow him.
Troyer picks up the pace, and before long, I find myself standing right in front of the old banana tree, where I gave it up to Ellen that very first time.
CHAPTER 47
Stone was still at Gilgo Beach wading through the sand when the call came in from Tanner.
“We found a T-shirt in the dumpster behind the Mobil station. It’s got traces of blood on it. We’re having it analyzed right now to see if it matches our vic. When we questioned Gantry again he recanted his original story and admitted he took the knife from its sheath. He insists he had nothing to do with the murder, though.”
“So why didn’t he say that from the beginning?” Stone asked.
“Well, he says that when we questioned him he panicked and started to think he was going to be blamed for the murder, so he just lied.”
“What about the T-shirt, Tanner? How does he explain that?”
“It’s not his. It wouldn’t even fit over his left thigh. Whoever owns it is easily half his size.”
“Well, how do you explain his fingerprint being the last one on the knife?”
“Our forensics girl says that it’s possible that the last person who touched the knife wore gloves. Gantry is adamant, and I think he’s telling the truth. He was just in the wrong place at the wrong time. Also, Gantry says that when he first met Sullivan at the Tides Inn, he was wearing a T-shirt underneath his long-sleeve.”
“Understood,” said Stone, nodding her head. “I was having a hard time reconciling all this anyway. It makes much more sense that Sullivan is involved with both crimes.”
Sung was in front of Tanner holding his cell to his ear with one hand while shaking his other hand in Tanner’s face. “Boss, this is important.”
“Can’t you see I’m busy here?”
“Yes, but we just located Storm’s car.”
Tanner’s eyes bugged out of his head. Speaking into the phone, he said, “Hold on a second, Stone.” He covered the mouthpiece and looked back at Sung. “Really? Where?”
“Back in New York, believe it or not.”
“You’re kidding. I figured he’d be a thousand miles south of here by now. So where exactly is he?"
“A place called Port Jervis.”
“Where the hell is that?”
“A few hours north of New York City.”
Tanner spoke back into the phone. “Stone, we’ve got a new development. Storm’s car has been located in New York, not too far from the city. We’ll get you the specifics, but you need to get up to Port Jervis right away.”
CHAPTER 48
Stone and Watts cruised west down Ocean Parkway.
“We should contact the local police in Port Jervis,” Watts remarked.
“Not yet.”
“But they can get to the car much quicker than we can.”
“I realize that,” Stone said flatly.
“And what if the signal is lost before we get there?”
“I’ll take the chance.”
“Are you sure that’s the right thing to do?”
“It’s our case Watts. We have to make the arrest.”
“At the risk of losing it?”
“We won’t—trust me.”
“I always have, but this is serious. How about a compromise?”
“Meaning?”
“Can we at least alert the locals when we get close? Also, we’ll need to give them time to set up and cover the escape routes.”
“Fair enough. We can call them when we’re a few miles away . . . but not before. I want us to be the first ones on the scene.”
CHAPTER 49
Troyer is grinning at me as he leans back into the banana tree. The shape of its trunk supports him like a lounge chair and suspends him off his feet. He folds his legs at the ankles and clasps his hands over his waist. “Well, Tommy Boy . . .”
“‘Well’ what? I don’t get this. What are we
doing here? We should be outta here already. It’s almost dark, and the cops are gonna be after us.”
“Too bad, mate. This is more important. It’s the key to all your troubles. So think back and tell me what this tree means to you.” Troyer starts to pull up his shirt.
I turn away, all grossed-out. “Quit that shit, Troyer! What’s wrong with you?” Then my mind starts flashing scenes from years ago, and all of a sudden it’s not Troyer lying against the tree; it’s Ellen. Her shirt’s up over those big tits of hers, and she’s calling out to me, “Come on, T, show me what you’ve got. My body’s aching for you to touch it.”
I stumble backward and shake my head, but there she is, still waving me over. Now, get this: I’m standing there, and it’s like I’m watching some kinda movie or something. There I am, back when I was a kid, and I’m walking over to her. Then I’m on top of her and my hands are all over her tits, squeezing them like water balloons. Back then, I had no idea what I was really supposed to do. Anyway, it doesn’t take long before she’s grabbing at my crotch. Then I rip open her pants, and the next thing you know, we’re both naked and clawing at each other.
That was the first time I had ever even touched a girl down there, and when I did, she was all wet. Then she started squeezing my cock. Anyway, one thing led to another, and I tried sticking it in, and that’s when she freaked out. Funny—I don’t remember it happening that way. I mean, that was my first time, and it was all good to me. But now, watching it all playing out inside my head, the whole thing’s different. Ellen starts crying and screaming and pushing me off of her, but I don’t get off. I just keep on thrusting until I explode. Man, that was wild. Then she screeches as loud as I ever heard a chick scream in my life. So I panic and choke her until she shuts up.
I’m seeing myself doing all this back when I was a kid, but it looks like it’s all going on right now, and I can’t stop the scene from playing out in front of me.
I keep watching and follow myself as I carry her off into the woods and down to the lake, where I take a rowboat out to the middle and drop her in. Then I start recalling this crazy time at the camp where first they couldn’t find her and then she comes floating up a couple days later.
Troyer laughs and pulls me back to the present. “Remember now, mate?
“I don’t believe it, this can’t be. That’s not how I remember it at all.”
“Sorry, mate, but you needed to know . . . and now you do.”
CHAPTER 50
Parker had only been back at the station for twenty minutes when the call came in.
“Captain, this is Detective Jake Watts with the Third Precinct in Manhattan. We’re investigating a murder in our jurisdiction, and it’s probable that our perp has made his way into your area. We need your help.”
Parker’s mind raced. “Excuse me, Detective, but we have a situation here, too.”
Watts squinted. “Really? What kind of situation?”
“Kidnapping.”
“This just happen?”
“Earlier today as a matter of fact.”
Watts thought for a moment, “Too many coincidences.”
“What do you mean?” asked Parker.
“Well, we’ve been tracking a suspect, and it looks like he’s hiding out in the woods near a place called Camp Lakewood.”
“I’m familiar with the camp, Detective. But how do you know he’s there?”
“GPS, Captain. We’re a few minutes down the road, and we need backup. Can you get some men out there fast and blockade the roads out of town?”
“You have to give me something more to go on, Detective. Of course we want to help, but we have our own problems here, coincidence or not.”
Watts looked over at Stone, who nodded approval. “Fine,” Watts said, hesitating. Then he proceeded to fill Parker in.
When Watts reached the part about the motel murder, Parker interrupted. “Wait a second, Detective, that coincidence of yours is starting to make sense. Our vic was taken from a local motel, too. She managed to escape, and from what you’re telling me, this is no coincidence. It has to be the same guys.”
“Okay, then, get some of your men and meet us at the entrance to the camp. We’ll be there in ten minutes.”
“Roger. We’ll have road blocks set up in the vicinity right away.”
CHAPTER 51
I’m staring out over the lake, captivated by the reflection of the sliver of a moon hanging low in the sky. Canoes are tied up along the dock. Troyer is by my side.
“Reality liberates—does it not, my friend?”
My head’s spinning, and I’m all creeped out at this point. I still don’t believe that what I imagined was real, but I can’t think of any other logical explanation for it. On the one hand, my brain is telling me my first sexual experience was magical—and that’s the way I thought I remembered it. But on the other hand, this new vision—compliments of Troyer—suggests that I raped and killed the first girl I ever had sex with. Heavy shit I can’t digest and still don’t believe.
“Look, Troyer: The only reality I know right now is that we have to get Aurora and book. I’ll process this shit later. Let’s just get her and go.”
“Very well, mate. Go get her.”
“Where is she?”
“You know where, Tommy Boy. Think about it.”
“Stop this shit, Troyer. What the fuck are you talking about?”
“Come now. You mean you don’t remember?”
“No, I don’t. Really—I don’t.”
Troyer laughs that psycho laugh again. “All right, I’ll give you a hint. The night we first met I asked you about one of your biggest fears as a kid.”
When he says that, it hits me like a punch in the gut. I literally stop breathing for a half a minute. Then I turn and run off toward this beat-up old place set in the woods just outside of camp. We were told to stay clear of this place because it was supposedly haunted. Of course, back then, we believed all that scary ghost shit.
The path to the shack is still here and easy to follow, even in the dark.
Just like when I was a kid, I stop five feet from the door and stare. My heart thumps against my chest. The place hasn’t changed one bit, and I’m still scared to death to even open the door.
Troyer slaps me across the back of my head. “Go ahead, mate. Open it. The worst is over now.”
I turn and look at him.
“Don’t be afraid, Tommy Boy,” he says to me grinning. “You’re all grown-up now. Whatever lurks behind that door can’t hurt you.”
Still hesitating, I step forward and reach for the knob.
“Go ahead, mate. She’s right on the other side. No need to fret about it.”
I look back at Troyer, turn the handle, and walk inside.
The room is vacant except for a broken wood chair lying haphazardly on its side, ropes sprawled out around it. An empty dinner plate looks out of place on the floor nearby.
CHAPTER 52
Parker and his men met Stone and Watts at the entrance to Camp Lakewood.
“The GPS tells us that the car is in here, Captain,” Stone said.
“So who are these guys anyway?” asked Parker.
“Guys? We only know about one, and his name is Sullivan—Thomas Sullivan. We’ve tracked him from Manhattan through New Jersey to Cape May and now up here. We believe he’s with a girl named Alice Storm. It’s actually her car that we’ve tracked.”
“And you think he’s responsible for this crime spree?”
“We believe so,” Watts said.
“You don’t sound so convinced,” Parker said.
“As convinced as we can be at this point, Captain.”
“Well, the girl who was kidnapped said there were two men.”
“Really?” said Stone. “Are you sure it was two men and not a man and a woman?”
“She heard men’s voices.”
“I see,” said Stone. “But our intel suggests it’s a man and a woman. Maybe she didn’t hear the voi
ces clearly. After all, she must have been in shock.”
“True, she was very scared when I spoke with her. But she was clear that she heard two men speaking when she was locked in the trunk. Maybe they had a girl with them, too. Whatever it is, if they’re here we’ll find them. I’m very familiar with the camp layout. I can map out a plan of attack.”
“Sounds good, Captain. Just keep in mind that we’d like to take them without any violence. We don’t want anyone else to get hurt, and if the girl is with them we have to be extra careful.” Tanner looked out toward the grounds. “So what can you tell us about this place?”
Parker motioned with his hands as he spoke. “The bunks form a complete circle around the main center of the camp. Picture a clock with boy’s camp from one o’clock to five o’clock and girl’s camp from seven o’clock to eleven o’clock. The infirmary separates them at twelve o’clock, and the mess hall separates them at six o’clock. Let’s send out three groups, all starting at the mess hall. One group will move clockwise from bunk to bunk, one counter-clockwise. You and I will go straight up the middle.” Parker looked at Watts, “Detective, why don’t you join one of my crews?”
Watts looked at his partner, then back at Parker. “Captain, with all due respect, I think I’m better off on my own, maybe looking for the car or something.”
“Fine with me,” Parker said, nodding.
CHAPTER 53
I stand at the doorway staring at the empty room. “What the hell, man? It looks like she escaped.”
“What was your first clue, Tommy Boy?”
“We’ve got to find her.”
“No, mate—you’ve got to find her. Me, I’ll be on my way. I’ve served my purpose.”
With that, Troyer turns and runs out the door.
I shout after him, “Troyer! Wait!” But it’s useless; he’s gone. Ditched me again.
I run outside and look into the woods, but it’s totally dark out. With almost no moon, it’s hard to see. I’ve got to find Aurora.
I head back up the hill toward the camp. As I get closer, I see flashlights flickering through the bunk windows. I stop moving and hide behind a tree. Holy shit, how’d they find us so fast? My stomach twists up in a knot, and I double over in pain. My heart starts hammering, and my head starts pounding. I need my pills, but they’re in the car.
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