Fade to the Edge

by Kathryn J Bain

  “It’s over there.” Gary gave her arm a squeeze of encouragement as she passed by.

  Down the hallway, she glanced over her shoulder. Sure no one was near, she tugged the prepaid cell phone from her purse. She dialed the number she’d memorized. “Kimi, call me. Now.”

  She entered the bathroom. A lady cop was washing her hands. Jenny rushed into a stall and waited until the officer left then walked to the sink. She checked the other stalls. All clear.

  “Come on. Come on,” she muttered to herself. She glanced at her cell phone.

  A few seconds later it rang. Jenny quickly checked the other two stalls then shoved her finger across the screen.

  “Where are you?” Her heart dropped to her stomach. “Please, don’t harm DJ. I’ll give you however much you want.”

  Chapter 48

  Phones rang and voices sounded on the other side of the closed door. Tracy flicked her forefinger and thumb. What was going on? Had they found DJ? Wouldn’t they have told her? Unless…

  Her hands shook, and tears blurred her vision. She had to hold it together.

  The door swung open and Swenson walked in.

  Tracy jumped up. “Was it DJ?” Her near hysterical voice bounced off the walls. “Please. Where’s my baby?”

  “It wasn’t him.”

  A loud breath came from her. She lowered herself back to her seat. “Then what’s this about? I thought maybe…” She brushed at tears on her face.

  “As far as we know, DJ is still alive.” Swenson pulled out a picture and slapped it upside down on the table. “We found a body at the Skyglaze Condominium, number 131. I’d like you to turn the picture over and let me know if you can identify the person in the photograph.”

  Tracy touched it, her fingers trembling. She inhaled deep and flipped it over. She jerked back as if burned.

  “Daniel.” She glared at Swenson then back at the photo. “It’s Daniel.” Shock came from her husband’s gray image. “I-I don’t understand.”

  “Can you give me his full name, please?”

  Tracy ran her hand through her hair.

  “His full name.” Swenson again asked. She sat stone-faced.

  “Daniel Joseph Allen, Sr.”

  “Your husband?”

  “Yes. You know that.” Irritation rode up her back and settled in her stiff shoulders. “What type of game is this?”

  “Daniel Joseph Allen, Sr. was discovered stabbed this morning. He was dead when we got there.” Swenson stared at Tracy for a moment. “Where were you between ten and midnight?”

  Tracy looked again at the photograph, unable to find her voice. This can’t be true.

  “We know you and your friend Vonnie Applegate were at the condominium owned by your husband for the benefit of Kimi Frazier.”

  After a brief pause, Swenson continued. “Right now, Agent Nicholson is next door speaking with your friend. He’s explaining to her that if she tells us what we want to know, there’s a good chance she’ll be with her family tonight. If not, her kids will only see her on the other side of a table for a very long time.”

  Vonnie wouldn’t say anything. She was always the sneaky one growing up, but no matter how much she’d protect Tracy, this had to end before they both found themselves in trouble. “She had nothing to do with this. She just came along with me.”

  “Came along with you to do what?” Swenson wrote something in a notepad.

  Tracy’s shoulders sagged. “I need to find my son.” Tracy leaned forward. “I thought Kimi was hiding him at her house, so I went there.”

  “Did you go in?”

  Tracy flicked her thumb and middle finger. “Yes.”

  “How’d you get in?”

  “The patio door was open. But Daniel wasn’t there.” She was quick to add. “In fact, he arrived as we were leaving.”

  “Come on. It’s too much a coincidence that he shows up dead the morning after you break into his mistress’ place.”

  “The sliding glass door was open.” Tracy’s chest tightened. At once things became clear. They were arresting her for killing Daniel. “Where’s DJ?” she asked.

  “You tell me.”

  “If I knew, I wouldn’t have searched her place, would I?” Tracy slapped the photo toward Swenson. “Maybe Kimi and Daniel got in a fight, and she did this.”

  “Could be.” Swenson leaned forward. “Listen, no one can fault you, especially with him drugging you like he was. Did you catch Kimi trying to take DJ? Is that why we haven’t seen her since this thing has begun?” Swenson leaned back. “Listen, if it comes down to it, plead guilty to manslaughter based on the drugs in your system. Get a light sentence.”

  “I didn’t kill anyone.”

  “We’ve got your friend in the other room. If you don’t tell us what happened, I’m sure she will. Whoever talks first, gets a deal.”

  It shocked Tracy to hear herself say, “I want to call a lawyer.”

  Swenson’s jaw tensed. “You’re entitled, but we have enough to hold you.” Swenson got up.

  The door closed behind the detective. Daniel was dead. Fear raced up Tracy’s spine. If he’d been the person responsible for DJ’s disappearance, what’s happened to her son?

  Chapter 49

  “Still here, huh.” Myrna glanced down at Ginger. The blue car hadn’t moved since it’d arrived.

  Tired from working all morning, she paused and took a sip of water from a bottle she carried in one hand. The hole was almost finished, so she decided upon a much-needed break. She leaned the shovel she carried in the other hand against a tree and sneaked up to the walking path.

  Harold’s voice echoed in her ears. “It’s none of your business.”

  She’d be right. But a peek wouldn’t hurt, so she crept to Esther’s place.

  At the break in the trees, she glanced around. Sure no one was watching she tiptoed forward. She cut through the forest, pushing bushes aside until she had a clear view of the cabin. She scrambled to the side window and pressed her hand against the glass. The curtains were drawn. She walked around to the back to the porch, staying out of sight of the kitchen window.

  Used cigarettes littered the back area. The place reeked.

  “Ugh. Nasty woman.”

  It would appall Esther since her husband died from lung cancer.

  The door opened. Myrna momentarily froze then ran to the side of the house. Her pulse pounded in her ears.

  If someone came around the corner, she’d welcome them and see if they needed anything. Be neighborly.

  When no one came after her, she peeked around the edge. Her dark hair hung down in front of her face hiding her features. One of Esther’s granddaughters was blonde, the other a redhead. The girl pulled a lighter from her pocket and lit up a cigarette. It took all of Myrna’s power not to yell at her.

  The girl glanced over her shoulder.

  Myrna jerked back. Better to get while the getting’s good. She made her way to the dense forest. The girl came around the corner of the house.

  Too late to be neighborly now. She cut back into the woods, her feet moving carefully to keep from falling. Black clouds overhead darkened the forest floor. She tore at vines wrapped from tree to tree. The aroma of wet leaves and fresh pine mixed in the air. Bushes were overgrown and branches hung low.

  Too bad no one had taken care of the place since Esther died. That’s what happened when you gave the government something nice. They ruined it.

  As she pushed her way through the trees, sharp needles stabbed at her face. Her heart pounded against her rib cage. With her luck, she’d drop dead of a heart attack and no one would ever find her.

  “Not in shape anymore,” she muttered.

  A twig snapped behind her.

  She stopped and turned, but no one was there. Her skin crawled though she didn’t know why. She moved faster. Something tripped her up. She grabbed out at a branch but jerked her finger back from a thorn. Instinctively, she put her finger in her mouth. The dull taste of sap mix
ed with dirt.

  Willing her feet to move, she pushed through trees and brush, ignoring the tickling of a spider’s web. As long as he doesn’t hitch on for a ride, she’d be fine.

  She tripped through a blackberry bramble bush and pine branches. The trees grabbed at her like hands trying to stall her. After a moment of inwardly cursing, she climbed over a dead tree limb then through thick branches and more spider webs.

  Nothing like taking the long route home.

  After a second she broke through the thick clump of entangled trees and bushes. Her home was in view right across the street.

  “Mrr.”

  “Come on, boy. Let’s get inside.” Her breath came out in spurts. She glanced around; realizing she’d left her shovel behind. If that woman found it, she’d surely know someone had been watching her.

  It’d be too risky to go back and get it if that girl spotted her. Myrna and Ginger bolted across the street, up the backstairs, and into the mudroom where Myrna pulled the deadbolt.

  She inched her way to her kitchen window. No sign of the girl. She then went to her front window and pulled the curtain back an inch and glanced across the street. Either she hadn’t been caught, or the girl didn’t care. Either way, that was too close for comfort.

  Chapter 50

  Tracy jumped as the door suddenly swung open. It felt like forever since she’d made her phone call. A man with brown hair walked in. “Tracy.” He held a hand out to her.

  “I’m so glad you made it, James.” She accepted his warm palm. He’d shaved his beard since the last time she’d seen him at Mark and Vonnie’s wedding when he’d been the best man for his brother. “I didn’t know who else to call.”

  “That’s all right. I’m here to take care of this business.”

  “Like I said, they’ve got Vonnie.”

  “Mark’s taking her home as we speak.” He walked around the table and sat down beside her. “They’d called me before I got your message.”

  Tears welled in her eyes. “I didn’t—”

  His hand on her arm cut her off. “I’m here to get you out,” he said. “Then we’ll talk. But from here on out, you don’t say a word. Okay?”

  “Okay.”

  “That was a word.” He chuckled.

  She didn’t find her situation very funny, but she’d play along. Swenson walked back in, this time with Agent Nicholson. “Ms. Allen, we’d like to go over the events of last night.” She pulled out a chair and sat while Nicholson remained near the door like a bouncer in a bar.

  “I don’t—”

  Jim placed his palm on her arm again. “My client knows nothing about the death of her husband. If you plan to charge her, please do so.”

  Tracy’s eyes widened, and her heart rate increased.

  Jim held a glint in his eye. “This way I can get her before a judge and have her home by dinner.”

  Swenson swallowed hard. “We want to ask her a few questions. And we could hold her for stealing her husband’s car last night.”

  Jim leaned over to Tracy. “Do you know what she’s talking about?” he whispered.

  She nodded.

  “Whose name is on the car title?”

  “Mine and Daniel’s.” She spoke into his ear.

  He straightened and looked at Swenson. “Hold her for stealing her own car? Come on Detective, you can do better than that.”

  “How about breaking into Kimi Frazier’s house?”

  “Has Ms. Frazier filed a complaint? No, because you can’t even locate her. For all you know, Ms. Frazier asked Tracy to stop by and check on the place.”

  Swenson raised her left eyebrow. “Okay. We have questions about her husband’s death.”

  He turned to Tracy. “Didn’t they ask you questions already?”

  She nodded. When he smiled, he looked like Mark with the parenthesis around his deep brown eyes.

  “Detective, I believe my client is in shock. She hasn’t had time to absorb all you’ve told her. She needs to get home and get some rest. So, you have a choice, either arrest her or let her go.”

  Tracy jerked back. Was he trying to get her tossed in a jail cell?

  Swenson took in a large breath and released it slowly. “I would assume she’d want to get to the bottom of this. It might involve her missing son.”

  “Let’s discuss that missing child.” Jim leaned on the table with his forearms. “It’s common procedure for the parents to be put under surveillance in a case such as this. Did you do so?”

  “They did,” Tracy blurted. She pointed an accusing finger at Swenson. “She told me so.”

  Jim again patted Tracy’s forearm. “Well, in that case, you know for a fact that my client was out of that condominium before Daniel Allen stepped foot inside. Correct?”

  Nicholson took a step forward. Is it possible he didn’t know?

  “Even so,” Swenson said, “she might have seen or heard something to help.”

  Jim turned again to Tracy. “Did you?”

  She looked at Jim and shook her head.

  “I suggest you don’t make this about your ego, Detective,” Jim said. “This is about a missing boy.”

  Crimson red crawled from the top of Swenson’s head to the collar of her shirt.

  “Unless you have proof Ms. Allen returned to that condominium after Daniel Allen arrived, I believe we’re finished here.” Jim stood, taking hold of Tracy’s arm, helping her to her feet. “If you need to speak to my client further, contact my office, and I’ll be happy to bring Ms. Allen back in.”

  Tracy cut a glance at the agent who gave her a slight nod when she passed. Her shoulders tensed walking from the room, expecting one of them to pounce on her. Relief finally settled in when she turned the corner and saw Jenny and Dad.

  “Excuse me, Ms. Allen.”

  She and Jim both turned.

  Deputy Thomas rushed toward them. “We got your phone back from Levigne last night. Swenson forgot to give it to you.” He held the phone out toward her.

  “Let me guess,” Jim jerked the cell from the officer’s hand, “you had to make sure it was hers so you took a look at the contents?

  “I don’t know about that.” Thomas stared at the floor. “I was just asked to give it back.”

  “I don’t care if they searched it,” Tracy said. “There was nothing to see. Once they discover that, they might actually move faster to find DJ.” When she turned around, Dad and Jenny were behind her.

  “Are you all right?” Dad pulled her against him. The security of his Old Spice aftershave warmed her.

  “Daniel’s been killed.” Tracy held tight to her father, soaking in his warmth and comfort.

  “We heard,” Jenny said.

  “Vonnie is waiting for us at her house,” Jim placed his hand on Tracy’s back to urge her on. “This way we have some privacy to talk.”

  She finally released her dad’s hand and turned to Jenny.

  “I’m sorry for all this.” Tears welled in Jenny’s eyes.

  “Now, don’t you fall apart or I’ll end up in a puddle on the floor.” Jenny’s rare, unexpected show of concern scared Tracy even more than Daniel’s death. She looked around. “Where’s Gary?”

  “He had a meeting. He’s made some calls to see if it might help.”

  Tracy wasn’t sure what anyone could do unless they knew where DJ was. “Are you coming to Vonnie’s?”

  “No. It might be easier for you if we’re not there.”

  Dad’s lips turned white, but he didn’t argue.

  “Okay. I’ll call you later.” Tracy hugged them goodbye then followed Jim out to his dark blue Buick. Reporters stood behind a wood barrier and yelled questions and accusations that skewered her heart in two. Jim ignored them and pressed her forward. At the car, he held the passenger door open. She crawled inside.

  At once it hit her. Daniel had been murdered. Fear centered in her chest. Had DJ watched his father die?

  Chapter 51

  Tommy fidgeted. He had to use
the john but wasn't about to go into the police station. Earlier, the woman who'd sneaked into Kimi’s with Tracy walked out with a large man. They barely talked to each other. He held her door open and then drove off in the opposite direction of Tommy. He didn’t know who either were so saw no point in leaving.

  The redhead who followed behind the police car holding Tracy Allen hadn’t left yet. Neither had Tracy.

  He picked at his thumbnail. No one showed up when he’d been arrested. He had only been sixteen when he got caught having sex with that girl in school. He didn’t even remember her name. The whore had the nerve to claim he’d forced her into the bathroom. Like she hadn’t been coming on to him for over a month before.

  He’d spent at least an hour waiting in the police station for someone to come get him. He wasn’t surprised when Grandma didn’t show but had expected his Dad at the least.

  He took a plea deal for indecent exposure and got time served. Once out, he walked back home, picturing the family reunion. Grandma met him at the front door all right, with a shotgun in her hands. “Get off my property,” she’d said with spittle forming at the corners of her mouth. “I’ll have you arrested for trespassing.”

  He’d only called twice since then. Mom hung up the first time, Dad answered the second and warned him not to come by. No biggie. Let them torment each other. For all the bravado Dad claimed to have, he was just a weak idiot. Probably hadn’t done half the things he claimed.

  “He’ll be sorry when I’m sitting on my island counting my money.”

  He swiped his finger across his cell phone and typed in a search on Gary Carlisle. A bunch of news articles came up. Mostly on some red tide bill he was trying to get passed. But lots of photos of him and his wife named Jenny. She wasn’t too bad looking. Kind of had an air about her. But then most with money did.

  A while later, Carlisle strolled out of the station alone and got into a cab.

  Tommy returned to his phone.

  Not even thirty minutes later, Carlisle’s wife and the guy with the cane got in their car. Still no sign of Tracy Allen.