Fade to the Edge

by Kathryn J Bain

  Could Tracy Allen know something about Kimi’s disappearance? He drove around the block then turned his lights off before pulling to the curb a block away with a good view of the Mustang.

  Chapter 34

  Tracy adjusted in the car seat. Her back ached. She’d like nothing more than to get out and stretch, but not in this area. Her eyes continually darted around, looking for someone to jump out at them.

  “So, do you think you’re going broke?” Vonnie asked after being told about the bills not being paid. “I’m sure a girlfriend isn’t cheap to maintain.”

  “We should be his top priority, not her.”

  “Still no sign of Kimi’s car,” Vonnie said. “I’ve seen a lot I won’t ever get out of my mind, but no blue Honda.”

  “Wonder where she is.” Tracy scanned the lot.

  “Hmm.” Vonnie turned to Tracy and wiggled her eyebrows up and down. “If Kimi’s home babysitting, I wonder if she’s aware of what her boyfriend is up to.”

  “I’ll be more than happy to inform her.”

  Vonnie smiled and started the car. They pulled from the curb and headed to I-10. Within twenty minutes, they were in front of condo number 131 of the Skyglaze Condominiums.

  Tracy knocked again, then again, this time harder. Still no answer.

  “Her car’s not here, Vonnie said. “Might not be here.”

  “Or it’s parked elsewhere.”

  “So what were you planning to say if she actually opened the door?”

  Tracy hadn’t thought that far ahead. “I’m not sure. Tell her Daniel was playing with her friends at that club. Get my son back.”

  “If she has him.”

  “It’s the only thing that makes sense, especially with the drugs in my drink. They had to make sure I wasn’t awake. It was stupid to not get the locks changed when Daniel moved out.” Tracy skirted around Vonnie. “Why don’t you wait in the car while I go around back?”

  “No way. If I’m in this, I’m in one hundred percent.”

  “I might do something that could get us both in trouble. I’d hate for you to lose the investors in your boutique.”

  “What’s the saying? A friend will bail you out of a jail, a best friend will be in the cell next to you.” Vonnie pretended to lift a glass in the air. “Here’s to talking through the bars, girlfriend.”

  Tracy’s shoulders relaxed a bit. She didn’t know if she’d have the guts to go around by herself. “We’ll have to count the doors to make sure we get the right one.”

  “What? You don’t want to spy on some old geezer changing his clothes?”

  They sneaked around the side of the building. In the back, the wind blew against them without the condominium for protection. Sprays of water from the fountain in the center of the pond behind the building hit Tracy’s cheek every once in a while.

  “One, two, three…” She counted patios until she reached Kimi’s.

  Vonnie’s phone rang in her pocket splitting the quiet night. Tracy jumped about a half foot.

  “Hello,” Vonnie whispered. She mouthed the word Mark. “Hey, babe.” There was a short pause. “Actually, Tracy fell asleep beside me, and I don’t want to wake her.” She winced apparently not liking to lie. After another bit of silence, she said. “I miss you too. I’ll see you first thing. Love you.” She shoved her finger across the screen.

  “Might want to silence that thing.” Tracy suggested.

  “I did.”

  “You plan to tell him about tonight.”

  “Yeah. When we’re old and gray in a nursing home.” Vonnie released a loud breath. “What now?”

  Dampness seeped into Tracy’s shoes. She stood in the middle of the grass and stared at the closed patio window. She crept up and pressed her face against the glass, but she couldn’t see passed the pulled shades. She jerked the handle on the sliding glass door. It gave, and the door opened a half-inch.

  “Why would she leave her door open if she was on vacation?” Vonnie asked.

  “Probably didn’t realize it was unlocked when she left,” Tracy whispered back.

  “Or someone left it open when they grabbed her.” Vonnie joked.

  “What if she’s home, but hiding inside?” Tracy shoved the door open. “Kimi. Are you in there? Hello. I’ve come to get my son.” She pushed the shades aside only for Vonnie to grab her.

  “What are you doing? If she’s not in there, it’s breaking and entering.”

  So much for sharing a jail cell.

  “There could be something that’ll tell me where she is in North Carolina in case she took DJ with her.” They stared at each other in the dark for what felt like minutes. “You stay out here and keep watch,” Tracy finally said.

  “But hurry.” Vonnie rubbed her hands up and down her arms. “And cover your hands.”

  Tracy glanced back at her.

  “Fingerprints.” Vonnie waved her fingers in the air.

  Tracy didn’t have any gloves, so she pulled her sweater sleeve over her hands and wiped the handle of the door. After a deep breath, she slipped inside. It was pitch black. Her knees knocked. “Kimi, come out, come out wherever you are.” She stepped forward and bumped into something. “I can’t see a thing.”

  “Use your cell phone light.” Vonnie leaned on the patio door jamb with one foot inside.

  “I left it in my purse back at the car.”

  “Here. Use mine.” She handed off her phone.

  Tracy scanned the room. A table leg had been what stopped her seconds earlier. Papers were strewn all around. Dirty dishes were laid out on a coffee table. She flashed a light at the end table. A cockroach skittered away from a plate filled with uneaten pizza crust.

  Tracy shuddered as she stepped into the middle of the living room. Nasty.

  “I’m surprised Daniel can stand this mess.” Vonnie had come up behind Tracy startling her.

  “I thought you were my lookout.” Tracy pressed her hand to her heart.

  “Be faster for both of us to search.” She flipped on a small flashlight.

  “Where’d you get that?” Tracy asked.

  “Mark insisted I put it in my purse in case it’s ever dark when I come home. Just remembered I had it. Never thought it’d come in handy.”

  “Not sure he’d be pleased with what you’re using it for.”

  “Probably not. You take the back rooms. I’ll check out here. I hope I don’t get hepatitis from all this crap lying around.”

  Tracy hesitated. The last thing she wanted was to go further, but she had no choice. She had to locate Kimi. There was little doubt a girl like her would have family helping hide DJ. The only way to prove it was to get up to North Carolina and see whether Kimi ever really showed up.

  To do so, she had no choice but to search Kimi’s condo.

  Chapter 35

  Tommy leaned against a tree on the outside of the condo. He’d followed the two ladies from the club, surprised where they ended up. He raised the collar of his coat against the chilly wind.

  What were those two looking for? He lit a cigarette and waited.

  Voices came from his left. He moved to the side of the tree, more out of sight. A couple passed.

  “Hey,” the guy said.

  “Evening,” Tommy replied. In the dark, there’d be no way they’d recognize him, not that it mattered. He was Kimi’s boyfriend. It should surprise no one to see him there. Besides, he wasn’t the one inside that condo.

  But he’d be more than happy to share that information with the cops should the need arise.

  He brushed a drop of water from his face and took a step back from the fountain.

  The couple walked to the apartment complex next door. He glanced around. No one else in sight.

  He considered calling the police on Tracy Allen and her friend. Women like that wouldn’t do well spending the night in jail, having everyone watch them pee. The thought made him smile.

  No. Those two women were looking for something. Tommy inched close to the slidi
ng glass door. If it was worth anything, he’d be sure to get it before they got too far.

  Chapter 36

  Tracy paused in the hallway. What type of creepy crawlies would she find back here? She pushed open a door. The bathroom. She forced herself to go through the narrow doorway and threw back the light-colored shower curtain. Nothing.

  With the phone, she scanned the room. The sink was filled with whiskers, and towels littered the floor. Apparently, Kimi didn’t play maid for Daniel. Tracy turned to the other room. In the doorway, she hesitated. Her skin crawled thinking of her husband in the unmade bed with his whore. She tiptoed inside and looked down at the sheets pulled back.

  Too bad she didn’t have a match.

  She rifled through the drawer to the nightstand. Inside were sleeping pills and a vibrator. She swallowed back a laugh.

  Not finding anything dealing with DJ, she moved on to the dresser, surprised to find it empty. Nothing the federal agent told her indicated Kimi was leaving for good, just visiting relatives. Didn’t she plan to return? If so, why take all your clothing?

  Tracy slammed the top drawer closed. More proof she had DJ and had no intention of coming back. It wasn’t like any of her furniture was worth coming back for.

  “I found something.” Vonnie’s harsh whisper came from the living room.

  Tracy slammed the drawer shut and rushed to the living room. “What do you have?”

  “A bank statement for TD Bank.”

  “Daniel must have opened it once he took the money from our account.”

  “I thought you guys had only about twenty thousand when he left.” Vonnie held up a batch of papers.

  “That’s what he told the court. Why?” Tracy glanced over Vonnie’s shoulder.

  “According to this statement, Daniel has four accounts with close to a million dollars.”

  Chapter 37

  A million dollars! Tommy’s heart skipped a beat. Kimi never let on Daniel Allen had that much money.

  “I can’t believe it.” One of the woman’s voices rose. “That piece of crap had money all along.” Obviously Tracy Allen was the loud one.

  The other woman said something Tommy couldn’t make out. He moved closer to the sliding glass door.

  “It also means Daniel has enough money to take off with DJ,” Tracy Allen’s voice tinged with anger. “He’d live comfortably for a long time in some foreign country without worry about a kidnapping charge. Probably taking that whore with him.”

  Tommy straightened. Had Kimi planned for him to face Filmore all along?

  “Did you find anything in the bedroom?” the other women whispered.

  “Nothing in the dresser or end table,” Tracy said. “I didn’t make it to the closet yet.”

  “I’m assuming there won’t be much in there.” Papers shuffled and drawers opened. “I’ve got a couple more places out here.”

  Tommy’s eyes darted around the back of the complex making sure no one spotted him.

  After a few minutes of silence, Tracy Allen finally spoke. “I don’t see anything else.”

  “I suggest we get while the getting’s good,” the other woman said. “But you need to contact your attorney and have them freeze those accounts.”

  “Come on.”

  Tommy crouched down behind a bunch of bushes as the two women slid out of the condo. They glanced around the corner of the building before they continued out of sight.

  He pulled the sliding glass door back and sneaked inside, locking the door behind him. There had to be proof of where Kimi was, those two just didn’t know what they were looking for.

  A smile crept over his face. And when he found out, Daniel Allen would have to pay big if he wanted to keep his kid.

  Chapter 38

  Tracy followed Vonnie around the side of the condominium. Her insides burned. Almost a million dollars. She knew Daniel was hiding money, and by this time tomorrow, her divorce attorney would aware of it too. She patted her purse. She’d send him the bank statements when she got home.

  Vonnie grabbed Tracy’s arm before she walked into the open. “Hold up.”

  Tracy had almost forgotten her friend was with her.

  “Isn’t that Daniel’s car?” Vonnie used her head to point.

  Tracy leaned forward and looked around the corner of the building. The Mercedes pulled in front of Kimi’s condo. After a second, Daniel got out and walked to the front door. In the pale yellow light, he looked sickly. Worried.

  He stuck the key in the lock. Before going in, he glanced around. Tracy’s heart raced. She was sure their eyes met, but he gave no indication of seeing her before heading inside.

  “Whew, that was close,” Vonnie said. “He’s the last person I’d want to tangle with, especially if he discovered you found out about his secret stash.”

  “Let’s get out of here in case he’s not planning to stay long.” Tracy swore her heart stood in her throat.

  Once Daniel closed the door, they darted across the street to Vonnie’s waiting Mustang. Tracy paused at the open passenger door and searched her purse. She pulled out her set of keys.

  “I’ll meet you a couple streets over,” she said.

  “Why? What are you—?”

  Tracy darted to the Mercedes, keys in hand. She opened the car door and checked to ensure Daniel didn’t look out the window then she hopped in. Her hands shook with a mixture of concern and excitement as she shoved the key in the ignition and started the car. She half expected Daniel to chase after her.

  Two blocks over, she pulled to a curb. Vonnie drove up beside her allowing Tracy a quick get-away.

  “Let him come out and find his little baby gone.” Tracy buckled her belt with a laugh. “That’s what he gets for paying for that condo and leaving my house to be foreclosed upon.”

  “While very funny, and much deserved, there is only one problem.” Vonnie looked at Tracy in the dark.

  “What’s that?”

  “What if he was picking something up then heading to see DJ?”

  All the air left Tracy’s lungs. By now he’d realize the car was missing. Her silly game of revenge might have ensured she’d never see her child again.

  Chapter 39

  Day Two

  Myrna plodded down the walking path, tired from digging most of the evening. At least the air had been cool. The blue car she’d spotted earlier was still in one of the parking spaces. She glanced at Esther’s place. There were no lights on, not that there would be after midnight.

  She leaned on her shovel. That hole would be hard enough to dig without worrying about someone coming from that cabin.

  “Mrrr.”

  “I agree.” She followed Ginger back to her house. After dropping her gloves in the mudroom, she walked to the wood heater.

  “Cold as all get out.”

  The wood stove heated her. She removed her coat and placed it across the back of one of the dining room chairs. “Can’t help but wonder about that blue car over there. Must be a friend of theirs, but why not park in the driveway? Worried I’d stop over to say hello. God forbid.” She waved her hands in the air. “Most people would appreciate having a neighbor look after their property and to let their guests know someone was watching over them in case something happened.” She huffed out a breath and drew the curtain back. “But not them Braddocks.”

  Ginger jumped up on the windowsill.

  “Shall we see if there’s anything on about that missing boy before we head off to bed?”

  She plopped down in the chair and clicked on the television. She’d caught the middle of some show about the prayer vigil for DJ Allen. The camera stopped on Tracy Allen and her father.

  “The man’s looking old.” Myrna curled Ginger up near her neck. “They say the apple don’t fall too far from the tree. He’s never been a friendly one. Raised his girls to be the same way.”

  A yawn escaped her. She scanned the rest of the stations.

  “I guess there’s nothing new,” she said to Ging
er. “Need to get some rest.” She stood. “Surprised no reward yet. They got enough money.”

  Ginger jumped down from the window and wound around her legs. Myrna glanced across the street one last time.

  “Funny. You’d think if that car belonged to a friend, they’d have gone to the prayer vigil, but I don’t recall seeing it leave at all.” She walked to her bedroom. Ginger jumped up on the bed and pawed until she found a comfortable position. “Maybe I should call the police.” She picked up the officer’s card who’d visited earlier. “Might be a squatter.” She looked at the cat. “What do you think?”

  “Mrrr.”

  “You’re right. Can’t let my imagination get the better of me.”

  Chapter 40

  Tracy stepped from the shower and swiped dew from the foggy mirror and caught a glimpse of herself. Would the color ever return to her face?

  “You’re not going to like this.” Vonnie hollered from the bedroom.

  Tracy tossed a nightgown over her head. Vonnie sat cross-legged on the bed against the headboard. The news station flashed to a large picture of DJ with the words “MISSING” across his face. The show was a repeat of one played earlier that evening. Camera shots of police at the baseball field, Patty Phillips holding Tracy’s hand at Panther Hill, and the schoolyard popped up on the screen, each faded into the other.

  “All local areas have been searched for the missing boy.” Reporter Steve Levigne stared into the camera from behind a wood desk. His cheeks were flushed red. Probably from all the vodka he consumed. At their last Christmas party, he’d drunk almost a fifth on his own, yet barely slurred his words. “And Tracy Allen appears to have been the last to see him.”

  “Has your friend ever taken drugs?” Levigne turned his attention to the woman sitting on a chair to his right.

  Tracy’s eyes widened, and she stepped back.