Fade to the Edge

by Kathryn J Bain

  The news truck disappeared down the street. Had he asked those same questions of Daniel? She hadn’t seen her husband since the police station.

  Were the police watching him to make sure he didn’t take off? She hated not knowing what they were doing.

  Tracy’s hand reached over and caressed DJ’s cheek in the picture staring back at her. His baseball photograph. She smiled. The memory of his last game played out in her mind. DJ on second base, getting ready for the next batter to get a hit. His leg shook from the excitement. When the ball sailed into left field and hit the ground, DJ tore around third plate. He had run as fast as his little legs would carry him. The outfielder tossed the ball, but it didn’t reach the infield. Little boys on the other team rushed around trying to get the ball to stop DJ, but he slid home with plenty of time.

  DJ had been so proud of his only score of the game. Tears burned Tracy’s eyes. Would she ever see those bright, energetic eyes again?

  Chapter 19

  A police car came up behind Kimi as she headed toward Seminole Road. Her heart raced. He put his blinker on. She continued straight. He turned on Seminole, so she drove up a mile then turned and headed back. At the curve in the road, she paused. What if he was looking for her?

  Her pulse ratcheted up a notch and her palms began to sweat.

  No. There hadn’t been enough time for anyone to miss her except Tommy, and he wouldn’t care as long as he thought she was out making him some money.

  She pulled around the corner. Slowing at the curve, she pulled to the side of the road. The cop car sat in the cabin’s driveway.

  No point in taking chances.

  She did a U-turn. This might work for the better. Who would search a house they’d already searched? With enough trees to keep people from snooping and only one neighbor who lived across the street, this might work well. Daniel had told her that the woman’s husband was so sick, she hardly left the house. Even better.

  “Mom.” DJ’s voice was groggy.

  Kimi grabbed the special juice she’d made to keep him sleeping. “Here, drink this up, hon.”

  He sipped, dribbling some on her back seat.

  “Sorry,” he mumbled.

  “That’s okay.” It wasn’t like she planned to keep the Toyota, anyway. Nope, once she got her funds, she’d be driving something much better. Living a better life than one of being fondled every night.

  “Leave Tommy to deal with Filmore if he thinks it’s such a moneymaker.” She grinned. “Time to make a call.” She glanced back at DJ. Those pills worked wonders. She dialed the number on the prepaid cell phone.

  “Where are you at?” Panic sounded in her co-conspirator’s voice.

  “I’m on my way to North Carolina,” she said.

  “What? That wasn’t the plan.”

  “Plans change. So listen up and listen good. I want twenty-five grand or you’ll never see this kid again.”

  Silence held over the line. Had she pressed her luck too far? Maybe she should have taken the ten. It would at least have gotten her out of town.

  “Who’s blood was in the suitcase?”

  “Not his. Yet.” Kimi glanced into the backseat.

  “Then why?”

  “To keep your mouth shut. In case you thought I wouldn’t kill the kid.”

  “I’ll do anything.”

  “Yes, you will.” She slid a finger across the phone hanging up. She looked at DJ. “What you think, kid? How much do you think our golden goose will pay to get you back and keep from going to jail?”

  Chapter 20

  Myrna had to wait ten minutes for Daniel Allen to leave earlier before she returned to her digging. She’d contemplated calling the police but decided against it. The last thing she needed was a bunch of reporters coming ’round. Little doubt there’d be a reward later. She could use money more than that boy could use being found at this point.

  One more reason to hate it here. Bad enough some guy might have dumped his kid’s body down the road, but having no friends close by to comfort if that were true didn’t help. She’d plenty in New Hampshire, not to mention her sister. But in this town, she was a nobody, thanks again to Harold.

  Moving had cost them most of their savings. There was no getting back if she wanted to. While they had enough each month to cover their bills, there was never any extra to visit her family. And she wanted to go up. Talking by phone wasn’t the same.

  Darn Harold for bringing her down here.

  She’d loved him when they first married. She really did. But the lie, or lack of information, had killed any love years ago. Her father would never have allowed her to divorce. There were no excuses—not even abuse—as far as Father was concerned.

  Harold was a good man. He made a decent living as an elder law attorney which had kept them in clothes, food, and housing. But that one secret still to this day tore her heart apart.

  He couldn’t have children.

  They’d tried to adopt, but something always seemed to get in the way. It wasn’t until years later she realized that he didn’t care much for children—always complaining about them when they came around.

  His embarrassment hadn’t helped. Nowadays they called it erectile dysfunction. She thought of it as a limp noodle. At first, she thought it was normal, never having been with a man before. But talk from her friends told her differently.

  Did those women who wrote sexy romance novels have the same issue with their men? They were making up for the lack of an orgasm in another way.

  A car door slammed. She walked to the main road and glanced over at Esther’s. A police car.

  Did someone else call about seeing Daniel Allen?

  She glanced back at the hole she’d dug, now about two feet by two feet. It had to be much deeper to ensure no wild animals dug up the body. This would take forever with all the interruptions.

  It would only be a matter of minutes until the officer headed over to her house to talk with her. She waited until she was sure he was out of sight then ran home.

  Inside, she sprayed room deodorizer to hide the terrible odors.

  The officer returned to the front of Esther’s and looked her way. After saying something into his radio, he headed in her direction. Myrna inhaled a deep breath. She rushed into the kitchen and filled a plate with snickerdoodles.

  She willed her hands still as she pulled the door open. “Officer, how good to see you. Would you like to come in for some cookies and a nice warm drink?”

  “No, Ma’am, but thanks. Can I ask you your name?” He wrote her information. “When was the last time you saw anyone across the street at the Braddock cabin?”

  “Why? Is something wrong?”

  “Their little boy is missing.”

  “How awful.”

  “Has anyone been across the street in the past week or two?”

  “No, it’s been a long time. Over a month.”

  “Okay. Thank you for your time. It was a long shot.” He handed her his business card and returned to his car.

  She closed the door and leaned back on the wood.

  “Mrrr.”

  “Shush. I didn’t lie. Daniel Allen isn’t a Braddock. Besides, I don’t want to lose any reward they might offer later. And I don’t need a bunch of people searching for that boy when I have a body to bury.”

  Chapter 21

  It was after three. Tracy followed Vonnie down Dinsmore Lane heading to Panther Hill. She caught sight of Daniel standing near the opening of the park, handing out something to the people going in.

  Their eyes met.

  He had to be responsible. She’d not believe anything else.

  “We should go somewhere else,” Vonnie suggested.

  “Why? We have every right to be here.”

  “Yes, we do. But if people are already here, it’d be better to look elsewhere.”

  Tracy cheeks heated. Her friend was right.

  Lou Hendrix, the manager of Daniel’s insurance agency walked up to him and planted a kis
s on his left cheek. She then rubbed off the lipstick, laughing. Like now was the time to flirt with her boss. Not that he’d have anything to do with someone as heavyset as her.

  “Where do you suggest we go?” Tracy asked.

  “How about closer to the house? If DJ is off with a friend, he’d be nearer home.”

  Before Tracy could respond, her cell went off. The screen announced Swenson was calling.

  “Did you find him?” Anticipation rushed through her.

  “No.” The detective’s voice lowered. “But we’d like you to return to the house.”

  “Okay.” Tracy took a second to gather herself before she relayed the message to Vonnie.

  “Do they need Daniel there as well?” Vonnie asked.

  “I didn’t think to ask.” She shrugged. “I guess if so, they’ll be calling him shortly.”

  “Tracy?” Patty Philips walked up beside Tracy who squinted against the sunlight. Patty’s hair had come loose from the bun she wore on the back of her head. She took hold of Tracy’s hand with her sweaty palm. “I didn’t realize how serious it was when I saw you this morning or I’d have gone out looking when you stopped by. How are you holding up?”

  “The best I can right now.”

  “As if you’re not going through enough. Bringing you and Daniel in for questioning…how ridiculous.” Patty shoved her bifocal glasses up on her nose. “They can’t suspect you had anything to do with this.”

  “I don’t know what they think.” Tracy tried to pull her hand away, but Patty tightened her grip.

  “It must have been a shock to wake and find DJ gone.”

  “Who told you that?” Vonnie asked.

  “Probably one of the others.” Patty reminded Tracy of a former elementary school teacher, with her pinched face and puckered lips. “It doesn’t really matter, I guess. What’s important is finding DJ. I’m sure he’ll be home before dinner.”

  “I hope so.”

  “Well, don’t you worry.” Patty finally released her hold on Tracy’s hand. “Most of the neighborhood has turned out. We’ve covered a lot of area and there’s a group of us heading to the ballpark now.”

  “I appreciate everything you’re doing.” Warmth rushed in. How nice that so many were helping. “Will you call me if you find him?”

  “I will.” Patty paused for a moment. “I’m assuming you’ll be at the prayer vigil this evening?”

  “Prayer vigil?”

  “At the high school football field. Daniel’s already agreed to speak. I’m hoping we can count on you also. Though it would be understandable if you were unable to make it.”

  “I’ll be there.” Irritation rode through Tracy. Daniel knew nothing about DJ. He never rocked him or cuddled with him when he was sick. Tracy did all the baths, changing, and feedings when DJ was younger, all the while Daniel hid in his office.

  How dare they ask him. She was DJ’s mother.

  “I’ll see you this evening then.” Patty shook her head. “I can’t imagine how you felt when you got up and he was gone.”

  “I thought I’d lose my mind.” Tears welled in Tracy’s eyes. “His cereal was on the table and the glass with his orange juice was still cold.”

  “Sounds like he hadn’t been gone long.”

  “No. No. It doesn’t...” Tracy’s voice faded. She hadn’t considered that. Was it minutes or seconds?

  “Ready?” Vonnie asked.

  “Yeah, the lead detective asked me to meet her back at the house,” Tracy explained to Patty.

  “Maybe she’ll have some news that’ll bring him home.” Patty embraced Tracy in a sour-smelling hug. “And if you need anything, you let me know. I won’t be that far away.” Patty wandered down to a car and joined two other women.

  Within ten minutes, Vonnie and Tracy pulled around the corner to her block. Reporters surged toward them, shoving microphones and cameras in the Mustang’s direction.

  “Do you want me to come in with you?” Vonnie inched the Mustang forward until she got to the circular drive.

  “I see no point in your staying,” Tracy said. “Swenson said there was nothing new. I’d rather you be out there. DJ would be less likely to be scared with you.”

  “You got it.”

  Tracy leaped out and raced to the front door, ignoring questions shouted her way from reporters standing near her property line. Inside, instead of Swenson, she found Agent Nicholson glancing through a file in her living room. Were they still searching the house?

  “I thought Detective Swenson said she needed to speak with me,” Tracy said.

  “She had to take off.”

  “Is there anything at all that might lead you to DJ?”

  “Not yet.”

  Her shoulders deflated. She dropped onto the sofa in the living room surrounded by family photographs. Reminders of her missing child. “I can’t stand this. Where can he be?”

  “We have a lot of people looking. We’ll find him.” Nicholson took a chair across from Tracy. He leaned forward, his elbows on his knees. “Just as added information, the blood found on the knife was feline.”

  Tracy jerked back. “Cat blood?”

  He nodded.

  “What does that mean?”

  “Best guess, someone wanted to make it look like DJ had been hurt.” He placed the file he’d been holding onto a side table. “Is there anyone else you’ve thought of who he might have left with?”

  “No.”

  “What about your husband’s business associates?” the agent asked.

  “None have been around since the Christmas party.”

  “Where are these parties held?”

  “Here, at the house.”

  “So DJ would be familiar with them?” His eyebrows rose.

  “Some.” Tracy dragged out the word. “Daniel always insisted DJ attend.” Another way he tried to impress his friends. Dragging his child out in front of a bunch of inebriated adults. Last year, she’d escaped upstairs to DJ’s room while everyone downstairs carried on.

  “Do you have a list of guests from the last couple of years?”

  “In a file in the office.”

  “Can I get a copy?”

  “You can have anything you need if it helps you locate DJ.”

  Both got up and headed to the rear of the house. Tracy’s heart stood in her throat. Could she have allowed someone into her own home who would have taken her child?

  Drawers in the oak credenza on the far wall were partially opened. She didn’t care about the police searching in the office as much as in her bedroom. This was Daniel’s domain, all the way from the large leather seat to the forty-two square inch television screen against the wall. Tracy walked over and lifted a large owl figurine sitting in the center of the credenza and pulled the key taped to the bottom. She stepped to the filing cabinet which appeared undisturbed.

  “What can you tell me about these people who attend your parties?” Nicholson watched over Tracy’s shoulder.

  His aftershave came over her, something woodsy she couldn’t place.

  “They all seem like nice people. Most of them own homes here or in Tallahassee.” She handed him the folder from the past five years. “I can’t imagine any of them doing this to us. To Daniel. They all love him. He takes good care of his customers.”

  The agent nodded and leaned a hip on the oak desk that took up almost a quarter of the room. He was silent for a second as he rifled through the file. “And what about this girlfriend of his?” he asked without looking up.

  Tracy jerked back. Why did it surprise her that the conversation had turned in Kimi’s direction? “You mean the harlot he seems enamored with at the moment?”

  “Harlot?” The corners of Nicholson’s mouth twitched into a grin.

  “Nicer than saying whore or slut.” Tracy tried to swallow the bitter pill of resentment she carried over Daniel’s affairs, but at times hatred would rear its ugly head.

  “Do you think she might have done this?” he asked.


  “I’ve never met her.” Tracy slid into a black tub chair near the door. “Besides, why take DJ? She got what she wanted.” Tracy bit the inside of her cheek. Now was not the time to get emotional over her failed marriage.

  “Sometimes the other party sees children as competition.” Nicholson again raised his eyebrows. “They don’t care for the man’s baggage.”

  “Are you saying she might have harmed DJ?”

  “Unfortunately, it’s been known to happen. Until we find either of them, we can’t be sure whether she’s involved or not.”

  Heat erupted through Tracy’s chest. If this woman hurt her child, she’d kill her. “Have you checked to see if DJ’s at her condo?”

  “He isn’t. We can’t seem to find Kimi Frazier either. She hasn’t used her credit card since earlier this morning.”

  Nicholson’s words hit her like a Mack truck. She jumped up. “What do you mean you can’t find her? This is too much of a coincidence. It’s obvious Daniel is behind this.”

  She stared at him. “Why aren’t you out looking for her?”

  “We are.”

  After a moment, she slid back into her seat.

  He pulled a notepad and pen from his front pocket. “What can you tell me about this woman?”

  “Girl, not woman. She’s only twenty. All I really know is her name—Kimi Frazier.” Tracy grunted. Sounded like a little girl’s name. Kimi. Tracy pictured her perky breasts bouncing on a beach in a slinky bikini. “She and Daniel spend most of their time at her condo.”

  Should she explain how she’d followed them a couple of times when Daniel had visitation with DJ?

  Thankfully Nicholson didn’t ask. “Are you aware of what she does for a living?”

  “Other than seducing older married men, I have no idea.”

  His lips again curved upward before he returned to his notes. “Apparently she works at Tytti’s All Girl Review.”

  “Never heard of it.” Why would the agent ask if he already knew?

  “It’s a strip club.” He scratched his chin.

  “What?” Tracy’s whole body jolted as if struck by an electric prod. Her breathing increased. The night she caught Daniel on the computer watching two girls have sex with one man proved something was seriously wrong with her marriage. First watching and then doing. What could be next? Harming their child?