Fade to the Edge

by Kathryn J Bain

  “Mrrr.”

  “Yeah.” She patted Ginger’s soft fur. “Hard telling where you’d have ended up if I hadn’t been there to find you. It’s still not like having my sister and her family around.”

  The phone rang causing her to jump. It rang a second time before she picked it up.

  “Hello.” Her voice was barely audible.

  “Ms. McKilty?”

  “Yes.”

  “Ms. McKilty, this is Cami from Regions Bank. A deposit has been made into your account about a half-hour ago. The balance is showing one thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight dollars and eighty-seven cents. Is that what you were looking for?”

  “Yes, thank you.” Myrna’s shoulders relaxed. “One less thing to worry about this month.” She patted the cat’s head. A blue car pulled down the road and slowed at the cabin, the woman driver wore a baseball cap.

  The kettle whistled, and Myrna rushed to turn it off. She poured hot water into a cup before dipping in a used blueberry tea bag.

  During the office season, it wasn’t unusual to have two or three cars a month head up this way. But two in one day. First Daniel, now this woman. A coincidence?

  “Mrrr.”

  “Don’t worry. After I finish with my tea, I’ll take a little drive to the end of Seminole to see if I can find out what Daniel was up to. If they don’t offer a reward, I’ll let everyone know anyway because eventually, people will come up here looking, anyway. Little doubt him being up here had to do with that boy.”

  “Mrrr.”

  She grunted a laugh. “Yeah, my mind always goes to people being up to no good.”

  Harold said it came from the books she read. But then again, what reason did Daniel Allen have to be up here, especially with his son missing?

  She walked to the window and looked out again. And could that girl be one more clue to the puzzle?

  Chapter 26

  Tracy pulled the car into the parking lot of Allen Independent Insurance Agency. No signs of life. What better place to hide their son than at a closed business? She got out and walked up to the front door. Locked. She crept to the side window and looked inside. All the lights were out. She tapped on the glass.

  “DJ?” She tapped again. “DJ?”

  “May I help you?”

  Tracy spun. Lou Hendrix stood behind her. Tracy glanced around. No sign of her car.

  “What are you doing here?” the office manager asked.

  “I’m looking for DJ.”

  “What makes you think he’s here?” She placed her hand on her hip.

  Accusing Daniel would do no good. Not with Lou having a crush on him. “I figured it was one of the places he’s familiar with. He might have come here in case he wandered off and got lost.”

  Lou stared at her. “Not sure how he would have gotten in, but I’ll check.” She unlocked the front door with Tracy following. “DJ.” Office by office they looked but found no sign of him. “Maybe he’s in the woods or something.”

  “Good idea.” Tracy walked out and into the woods, calling DJ’s name. Lou did the same. After about an hour, they both realized it was hopeless.

  “I’m sorry.” She touched Tracy’s shoulder. “All the office staff is out looking. I’m sure we’ll find him.” She gave Tracy a hug which surprised her since they’d never been that close.

  “Thanks,” Tracy said. “And thank everyone else. We really appreciate it.”

  She returned to her car and pulled from the drive. So that’s why DJ wasn’t there. Daniel probably knew Lou would be hanging around. Just more confirmation Kimi had taken DJ to North Carolina.

  Chapter 27

  Tracy drove to her local Winn Dixie. Once inside, she grabbed a cart and pushed it to the meat section. The cold air conditioning caused her to shiver. After spending hours driving around town looking for DJ, she felt lost and unsure of what else to do, so she came to the store.

  “Ms. Allen?”

  A stranger stood behind her.

  He held a pad of paper in his hand. “Can I ask what you’re doing?”

  She jerked back. “I’m shopping for dinner. I promised DJ ham and macaroni and cheese when he came home. I don’t have any at the house.” What was the big deal in purchasing groceries?

  “So you think he’ll be home soon?”

  “He has to be.” She grabbed hold of her wobbly lip with her teeth then turned back to the ham. “And he’ll be hungry. Mac and cheese is his favorite meal.” She jerked up the largest shoulder ham and dropped it into her cart. She wheeled around the man, his eyes showing pity. She didn’t need his sorrow. DJ would be back.

  Mr. Coleman, the manager of the store walked up. “Mrs. Allen, can I help you?”

  It was the first time she’d realized people were looking at her like she’d come from Mars. What was wrong with them? Had they never seen a mother buy food for her family? She dropped two boxes of macaroni and cheese in her cart.

  “I’m buying food for when DJ gets back.” Her face flushed.

  “Why don’t you get what you need,” he said. “You can pay me later.”

  “Oh, okay.”

  He was kind enough to bag her groceries and carry them to her car. “When DJ comes home, bring him in for a free Snickers. He’s always real good when you come shopping.”

  “Thanks. That’s his favorite.”

  “I notice he always chooses it.” Mr. Coleman patted her on the back then placed the food in the back of the SUV and held the door open for her to get in. “Good luck.”

  He disappeared back into the store.

  She dropped into the driver’s seat. Her cell phone rang. She jerked it up, hoping for good news.

  “Jenny, have you heard anything?”

  “No, I was hoping you had.”

  “No. Nothing.”

  “What’s going on now?”

  “I’m at the store to pick up some groceries.”

  “You’re what?” Jenny barked. “Do you not know how bad that looks?”

  “What else am I supposed to do?”

  “Look for your son.”

  “I have,” Tracy shouted. “I’ve looked everywhere I can think of.”

  A loud release of air came over the phone. “I’m sorry. It looks bad.”

  “I don’t care how it looks. I promised ham and mac-n-cheese, and I won’t let DJ down.” She caught sight of the reporter from the store. Jenny was right, going shopping had been stupid.

  “You need to think how things will look, especially to the police.” Jenny let out an exacerbated breath.

  “I can’t worry about how things look. All I can think about is DJ and what he might be going through.”

  “I’m sure he’s fine. I wonder if the police have checked Daniel’s office like they said.”

  “Whether or not they did, I stopped by. It’s all locked up and dark. I even knocked on the window hoping if he was in another room, he’d hear me. Then Lou came by and allowed me to go in.”

  “That was smart. How about that home office of his? You might find some mention of a hideaway you never knew about.”

  “Wouldn’t the police have found that?”

  “They might not have realized what it was. Maybe thought it was some vacation you two had taken. You would know the difference.” She paused a moment. “It’s not going to hurt to look.”

  Tracy agreed. “Do you think Daniel would hurt him?”

  “I could see him taking off with DJ and trying to make it look like you did something, but no, I don’t think he’d harm him.”

  “I suppose you’re right.” Tracy shoved the SUV into drive and pulled out of the parking space. “You usually are. I’m just so worried.”

  “We all are. You forget I raised the boy the first year of his life. He’s almost like a son to me.”

  It took all of Tracy’s power not to argue. There was a difference between raising and stopping by uninvited. “But he isn’t your son,” Tracy said. “He’s mine. And I’ll do whatever it takes to get h
im back.”

  “So will I. Don’t think for a second you’re the only one suffering.” Jenny’s voice grew. “I love him as much as you do.”

  “But it’s different for me. You’ve never lost a child. And if anything happens to DJ, I’ll…” Tracy batted at tears rolling down her cheek. At once sobs ratcheted her body to the point she had to pull to the side of the road. She pictured her strong sister rolling her eyes.

  After a long silence, Jenny finally spoke. “We’ll get him back. I believe deep down he’s safe with Daniel.”

  “There’s only one thing.”

  “What’s that?”

  “Daniel has a large life insurance policy on DJ. And when it comes to money or his child, I’m not really sure which one he cares for more.”

  Chapter 28

  Tracy opened the fridge and took out her smoothie drink. She pulled open the lid and poured the rest into a cup. White residue lined the bottom.

  What the…

  She used a spoon to dig out what looked like a fingernail but was part of a pill. The letter “A” could clearly be seen. She stared at it for a moment.

  That son of a … he was drugging her. No wonder her blood showed higher levels of Ambien. She placed the pill into a plastic bag and put the lid back on the pitcher. What would Swenson make of this?

  More proof that Daniel took off with DJ? Or would she think Tracy planted the pill to make Daniel look guilty? She swiped her hand over her lips. It might be better to wait until Jenny or Vonnie were here to get their opinion.

  She took Jenny’s advice and began to search for something that might steer her toward her son’s location. In the living room, she opened the drawer to the end table near the sofa and went through every piece of paper she found. She tossed aside old books, old receipts for tools in the garage. Things she should have thrown away years ago.

  There was nothing to show DJ’s location, so she headed to Daniel’s office. It took all her strength to open the door. Except for earlier with Nicholson, she hadn’t been inside since catching Daniel on another porn site. Why did it bother her so much at that moment? She shuddered when she spotted the chair he’d been seated in that last night. Pants unzipped. It still made her want to vomit.

  The aroma of Daniel’s aftershave still lingered in the room. So much anger these past few months.

  She looked down at the wedding band on her finger. He’d been so nervous the day he’d asked her to marry him. Like she would have told him no. They had spent a spring weekend in a condo at the Loreley Resort in Helen, Georgia. The place had been beautiful with snow still on the ground. She was staring out the window when he strolled out of the shower and put his arms around her. His words came back to her.

  “From this day forward,” he’d said. “We’ll live happily ever after.”

  Her hand brushed back a tear rolling down her cheek. Too bad happily ever after didn’t last long. Even though they were going through a divorce, he’d claimed at one time to love her. So how could he put drugs into her smoothie, especially when she was the one in charge of his child?

  Just more proof he cared more about himself than anyone else.

  One at a time, she jerked open drawers in the filing cabin, tearing through files. Not finding anything in the cabinet, she moved to his desk. The top drawer held nothing but envelopes and office supplies. Same with the second. In the third, she came across a picture frame with a photograph of her and Daniel on their wedding day. Both smiling. So happy at the time.

  “Where is DJ? Please. Tell me you didn’t choose money over your own son.” She hugged the photograph to her chest.

  “Where is he?” She glanced back at the picture. “What did you do to DJ?” Her fingers poked Daniel’s face. “Where is he? Where? Where? Where?” She tossed the frame like a frisbee against the opposite wall, shattering the glass.

  Every irrational thought stirred her insides. One moment she’d have a surge of hope, the next despair. A roller coaster of emotions with no off switch. She glanced outside the door to the cross hanging in the foyer.

  After Daniel’s first affair, Vonnie had suggested visiting her minister for counseling. Tracy ignored the advice. She’d never been one for God any more than Daniel appeared to be. Maybe the cross didn’t work because they hadn’t allowed God into their house. Would things have been different if they’d attended church, loved others like themselves?

  Was all this God’s way of getting even?

  Chapter 29

  Myrna drove to the end of Seminole. She put the car into park and got out. After a quick glance around to make sure of no wild animals, she walked along the roadway. Daniel Allen wasn’t likely to push his way through trees and debris to toss his kid away.

  A dark plastic bag lay a few feet from the road. Her breath hitched. Should she call the police? Let them find the boy. No, think of the sympathy she’d receive. It’d be enough to get her back to New Hampshire. Everyone would surely understand why she had to move back.

  She slowed her walk until she was beside the bag. With the toe of her shoe, she touched it. No way to tell what was inside. She took a quick intake of air before she knelt beside the black trash bag. She opened it an inch. A small shoe.

  Her heart raced. She sucked in a deep breath and tore open the bag.

  Old clothing. Nothing but…

  She let loose a laugh. Probably good. Hard telling how she’d behave if she really did find a dead body. She’d come back later with a larger bag to gather up the trash. People could be such animals.

  Over the next hour, she searched beneath bushes and in mounds and holes that looked out of place. Nothing. Only one place left. The ridge. Pushing through branches, she came to the cliff. Water splashed against the limestone.

  A man like Daniel Allen wouldn’t be likely to get his hands dirty, it would mess up his manicure.

  She snorted a laugh. Yeah, this would have been the smart thing to do. But was he here long enough to carry that boy’s body through the woods? She stared at the water churning below.

  “One thing’s for sure,” she mumbled. “If he dumped that boy in the water, his body would likely never be found.”

  Chapter 30

  Tracy had spent the better part of the afternoon and early evening cleaning the mess both she and the police made searching the house. Her entire body was numb. First, her son goes missing then she discovers the man she used to love was drugging her. She sat on the sofa and stared at a blip of dust she’d missed in the corner.

  A knock caused her to blink away tears wanting to spill forth. She forced herself to her feet.

  “Ready to go?” Vonnie entered the house. “Are you all right?”

  “Perfect.” Tracy walked to her closet and pulled out her jacket.

  “What’s wrong?” Vonnie’s voice rose. “Is it DJ?”

  “No.” Tracy shook her head. “No. Come here.” She led Vonnie to the kitchen where she kept the smoothie and the pill residue. At least she’d be a voice of reason. “I found this earlier.”

  “What is it?”

  “I think it’s an Ambien.” Tracy bit her lip. “The police said my blood showed more of my sleeping pill in my system than what I’d taken. This has to be why.”

  “You’re saying someone—”

  “Not someone. Daniel.”

  “My word. Did you call that detective?”

  “And have Daniel accuse me of setting him up. I need more.”

  “From what you said, she seemed more on your side than his.” Vonnie took hold of Tracy’s arm. “You need to tell her.”

  “I guess.”

  “Are you sure you’re up to the prayer vigil?” Vonnie asked, her brow furrowed. “No one would blame you for not going.”

  “I have to go.” She insisted. “Besides, I have to keep an eye on Daniel. The pill proves he’s behind DJ’s disappearance.”

  “I agree.”

  “Now I just have to figure out where he’s hiding DJ.” She hesitated. “If he’s still…
”

  “He is. I’m sure of it.” Vonnie checked her watch. “We should be going. Swenson will likely be there, and we can talk to her about the pill. Get her to send someone out.”

  As they walked out the front door, two reporters shouted questions. Tracy paused outside Vonnie’s Mustang. The days were getting darker earlier. Within an hour, stars would blanket the sky and the moon would be full. Hopefully, DJ saw it. He liked a full moon.

  With a deep breath, she climbed into the car, and Vonnie drove out of the circular drive.

  Once at the school, they searched for a parking space, but it was wall-to-wall cars. Walking might have been faster. Tracy’s phone rang as Vonnie looped around the parking lot for the second time.

  “Hello?”

  “Tracy, it’s Gary.” Her brother-in-law yelled into the phone causing her to move it away from her ear. “Jenny and your dad are here. What’s your ETA?”

  It surprised her that Gary was in town. His appearance might get more than the local media involved in the search. With Kimi supposedly heading up north, the news up in Atlanta might announce something.

  “We’re looking for a parking spot,” she said.

  “Reserved parking is near the front. Tell an officer who you are, and he’ll show you where to go.”

  Tracy relayed the message to Vonnie. Within minutes, they were pulling into an empty spot next to a stage that had been set up at the end of the Belmont High School football field.

  Tracy glanced around, her mouth slack. At least five hundred people had shown up. Some stood on the field, others sat on bleachers, all with lit candles, casting a halo around the arena. It never dawned on her so many people would come to pray for DJ.

  “For where two or more gather in My name, there am I with them,” Vonnie whispered.

  “What’s that?” Tracy asked.

  “Bible verse. Seemed appropriate.”

  “I guess.”

  Vonnie gave Tracy’s hand a squeeze. “I have a feeling DJ will be home in no time.”