Fade to the Edge

by Kathryn J Bain

  Her heart raced. The idea of touching the body almost made her ill but her fear of Tommy was worse. As long as he had that gun, he had the power. She took hold of Jenny’s shoes and tried to twist her onto the sheet.

  “Push her ass,” Tommy growled.

  Kimi moved her hands onto Jenny’s hips and back. She pushed. The body rolled onto the sheet.

  Tommy wrapped it up then took hold of the top and stood. “Move the rug in the other room.”

  Kimi rushed into the living room and shoved the rug aside. She stayed against the wall while Tommy slid the body into the hallway.

  “Get this door open,” he said.

  She lifted her leg to get over Jenny and unlocked the basement door. She swung the door opened then moved aside. Tommy forced the body to the doorway, then he gave one big shove and Jenny rolled down the stairs onto the cement floor.

  “What now?” Kimi’s voice was barely audible.

  “Now my dear, you’re going to make a phone call.”

  “To who?”

  “Tracy Allen.”

  Kimi stared at him. “I don’t have her number. I’ve never had to call her.”

  “Don’t you ever use your brain?”

  Her jaw tightened. She caught a glimpse of the gun tucked into his belt as he marched into the kitchen.

  He tore through Jenny’s purse and grabbed her cell phone. He scanned through then pointed the phone at her. “Here.”

  “What do I say when she answers?”

  “You tell her you want one-hundred thousand dollars or her kid dies.”

  Kimi jerked back. A hundred grand. There was a lot she could do with a hundred grand. And once they got it, she’d have to make sure Tommy never touched a penny of it.

  Chapter 75

  The phone rang on the end table, stirring Tracy from a fitful sleep. Still dark out. She rolled over and looked at the caller ID. Jenny. Tracy swiped her finger across and answered in a groggy voice, “Hello.”

  “Your sister blew it.”

  She jerked fully awake. “Who is this?”

  “Stop playing dumb. You know exactly who it is, princess.”

  “Where’s DJ?” Tracy’s hands shook.

  “So far he’s safe.”

  “What do you want, Kimi?”

  “You get me one-hundred thousand dollars, and I’ll give you your kid back.”

  “I-I don’t have that kind of money.”

  “But Daniel does.”

  “Yeah, but since you killed him, no one can get access to it.”

  “Well, you’d better find a way, or I’ll kill your kid too. Oh, and if you call the cops, you’ll never see him again.”

  “I’ll do my best.”

  “If you’re not here by noon, with the cash, your kid’s history.”

  “Where are you?” She received no response. “Hello. Hello.”

  Kimi had hung up. Tracy dialed the phone number back but received only the voice-mail. “Please, I don’t know where you are.”

  One-hundred thousand. Her pulse pounded in her ears. And what did she mean, her sister blew it?

  Tracy scrubbed her hands down her face. How was she going to get one-hundred thousand dollars? She walked to the closet to change. The bonds. She jerked open the junk drawer and pulled them out. After a few minutes of staring at them, she rushed to her computer and pulled up how to turn in stocks. Her heart sank. It’d be almost impossible with them not being in her name.

  But would Kimi know that?

  Tracy considered it. She had no choice. With the cash, maybe Kimi wouldn’t even notice the bonds if she placed them at the bottom of the bag.

  Her pulse pounded in her ears. Should she call the police? No, she had no doubt Kimi would harm DJ.

  She had to focus on getting as much money as she could.

  First, get the car so she could sell it, if the police hadn’t impounded it. She didn’t know how things were done in real life, but on TV it seemed every time someone died, the police took their car into some police garage to search it.

  She stomped down the stairs, grumbling about Jenny messing things up again.

  The dealership opened in an hour and a half, so she headed to the kitchen in search of something to eat. Not that she was in the mood for food with her stomach in knots, but she hoped it would help get some of that sleeping pill from her system.

  She dialed Jenny’s number again. Still voice-mail. After eating a slice of toast with jelly, Tracy tried calling Kimi again. Still no answer. No more time to waste. She downloaded the UBER app onto her mobile phone.

  Within ten minutes, headlights pulled into the driveway, and someone honked. A white car pulled into the circular drive, a man in the driver’s seat. Tracy had forgotten about the reporters. They rushed forward with microphones, lights, and cameras in their hands yelling though the guy had yet to open his door. He’d probably be on television before she got the Mercedes sold.

  Tracy grabbed her purse and ran out. She jerked open the front passenger door and hopped in.

  “Ms. Allen?” he asked.

  “Yeah. Sorry about all,” she gestured with her hand, “this.”

  “Should I hit one for you?” He smiled. Crinkles formed parenthesis around his eyes reminding her of Dad years ago.

  The car, a Toyota like Jenny’s, smelled freshly washed with the remnants of vanilla.

  She buckled up before he maneuvered around all the media. “Guess you’ll be famous in an hour. If even that.”

  “My ex will be amazed,” he chuckled. “She said I’d never amount to anything. By the way, my name’s Peter Simpson.”

  “Nice to meet you, Peter.” Tracy liked him. He had a way about him that made her feel comfortable. On the way to where she’d parked the Mercedes, they talked about their kids.

  Before she stepped from the car, he touched her arm. “I hope everything works out and your son will be home soon. My church has been praying for him since he disappeared.”

  She jerked back, surprised by his kindness. The notion of strangers praying for her child warmed her insides. “Thank you.”

  He waited until she pulled the Mercedes from the curb before he left her. Good to know there are still nice people in this world. She drove around the corner passed Kimi’s condo. She glanced in that direction. Yellow crime scene tape blocked the front door. Her heart did a flutter. What had Daniel gone through? Did he know he was dying?

  At once blue lights came on behind her. She startled, but pulled to the side of the road, sure she hadn’t been speeding. In her side mirror, she watched an officer get out of the police car and walk up to her window where he knocked. She rolled it down a couple of inches.

  “Sorry to disturb you, Ma’am, but I’ve been asked to escort you to the police station to meet with Detective Swenson.”

  “What if I refuse?”

  “They said if you didn’t cooperate, I was to drive you.”

  “I’d like to call my attorney.”

  “You can do so at the station.” He was so calm; you’d have thought he pulled innocent people over every day.

  She strangled the steering wheel. Just more time away from getting DJ. “I’d rather follow you.” She didn’t dare leave the car behind.

  “Be better if I follow you.”

  He returned to his car, and she pulled out, ranting all the way to the station. She’d inputted Jim’s number the day before. A ticket for using her cell while driving was the least of her worries right now.

  She punched up his number but got his office voice-mail. Not unusual at this hour in the morning.

  “Jim, this is Tracy Allen. Detective Swenson wants me at the police station. Please call as soon as possible.”

  She hoped Kimi wouldn’t harm DJ as long as she thought Tracy was gathering the money.

  Chapter 76

  As Tracy waited in the interrogation room, her forefinger and thumb crazily danced with one another. Cold air rained down on her from the air-conditioning vent in the ceiling. She ha
d no intention of saying anything without Jim present, so she didn’t know why they’d brought her here.

  The door swung open.

  “Ms. Allen, we need to talk.” Federal Agent Nicholson walked into the room with Swenson following behind. “Off the record.” He glanced over his shoulder at the detective who nodded.

  Tracy waited, sure they were playing some game to garner a confession. Maybe trying to become her new best friend. She already had one, and even though Vonnie was out of town, Tracy didn’t need another.

  “Your sister took ten thousand dollars from her bank account yesterday afternoon. Do you know why?”

  She was taken aback. After a second, she leaned her arms on the table. “I have no idea why she’d take money from her account. Why don’t you ask her?”

  “Could you wager a guess?”

  Tracy paused. “Maybe she’s giving it to charity. She and her husband are very generous.”

  Swenson leaned back against the wall, her arms folded over her chest. “What about the money you hope to garner from the sale of your husband’s car?”

  Did the car lot call or were they listening in on her phone? Tracy swallowed the lump in her throat and thought for a moment before she spoke. She looked at Swenson. “I believe you were the one who informed me that my house was about to be foreclosed upon. Without money of my own, I have no choice but to sell something. And since I like the SUV better than the Mercedes, and it’s worth more, seemed the best choice.”

  Swenson walked over and leaned on the table. “Listen, let’s stop playing games here. We both know the money’s to get DJ back. Who called you, and how much do they want?”

  As tempted as Tracy was to say something, she couldn’t. Her child’s life was at stake. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. Now if you don’t mind, I would like to leave.” She stood and headed to the door.

  “I have the ability to hold you as a material witness,” Nicholson said. “Keep you here for forty-eight hours without a phone call.”

  Tracy again swallowed hard. She paused with her hand on the doorknob.

  “I know you’re only trying to get your kid back.” The agent walked up behind her, his voice softer. “I’d be doing the same thing, but we’re better able to handle these things.”

  Tracy spun around. “If you’re so good, then why haven’t you found my son yet?” She turned and stormed out the door.

  Chapter 77

  The sun peeked through the trees over Myrna’s head. Small creatures padded through the pine needles. The Braddock’s back door slammed. She paused with the shovel in mid-air. Murmurs of voices followed.

  She placed a finger to her lips trying to silence the sounds of birds and insects.

  Her heart raced. What if they headed this way?

  She didn’t move, barely breathing. A man’s voice grumbled. She spotted him on the walking path. Myrna stepped out of sight. He rushed to the driveway and ran to the street. Within a minute or two, the black truck from the road pulled in. He paused near the other cars, then took a left on the path and headed into the woods.

  “What the…”

  She put the shovel down and followed, cutting through the woods. He couldn’t go fast on the narrow lane.

  He pulled the truck up to a picnic table and got out. Lighting a cigarette, he marched back to the Braddock house.

  “Mrrr.”

  “I agree. Seems strange he didn’t park near the others.” She considered it for a moment. “Maybe he didn’t want anyone to know he was up here with those two women. Maybe he’s part of a three-some. Sick people.”

  “Mrrr.”

  “Should call the sheriff,” she muttered. “Ruin that family’s reputation good. Imagine what the press would do if they caught wind of it. Destroy that politician husband of hers. That’s for sure.”

  The back door slammed shut. All went silent.

  She paused. “What if he’s here for some nefarious reason?”

  At once, Harold’s voice popped into her head. “You read too many mystery novels. Mind your own business.”

  She straightened. “He’d be right. Besides, I’ve had too many interruptions. I’ve got to get finished.” She turned around and marched back to the hole.

  Chapter 78

  Tracy sat in the police parking lot contemplating whether to tell Swenson what was going on before finally putting the car into gear. DJ had to be her top concern right now.

  She drove down Hermosa. Businesses were beginning to open. Their days would be one of drudgery wishing something exciting would happen in their lives. Excitement wasn’t all it was cracked up to be.

  Her thumb pounded the steering wheel. How was she going to get the rest of the money, especially by noon?

  “Darn it, Jenny. Why couldn’t you have stayed out of things?”

  Tracy sped to Gilbert’s Auto Sales on the west side of town.

  “We’ll need to take a look at it,” a large fat man said. “Make sure it’s in good shape.” A brown cigarette hung from between his lips while he spoke.

  “Okay. Hurry, please.” She followed him to a chair near a small television screen but didn’t sit.

  “You can change the channel if you like.” He nodded to the remote on the tray next to her.

  She hadn’t even noticed the ballgame on the screen as she paced. Thirty minutes later, he returned. “Looks like someone took good care of that car.”

  “Yeah, we did.” It’d been Daniel’s pride and joy. Now it would possibly pay to free his son. “How much can you give me for it?”

  “I’ll offer you twenty.”

  “The blue book on it’s fifty.”

  The man chuckled. “You did your homework. Good for you. I can go thirty, but no higher. Need to make a profit myself.”

  She glanced at her watch. 8:54. “Okay. Thanks.” She still had to get to the bank to cash the check and pull out any money she had. Not that any of the money mattered if she couldn’t locate DJ.

  The car’s title was listed in both her and Daniel’s name, which meant either of them could sell the vehicle. Who knew such a small word as “or” was so important.

  Once done with the transaction, a mechanic drove her home. She tucked the check securely in her purse before getting out of his truck. She barely noticed the reporters hanging around, shouting questions. Either she was getting used to them or didn’t care.

  She raced inside and up the stairs to her closet. How big a bag would she need to carry the cash? She checked all her purses and settled upon a large black duffle bag Daniel had used when he joined a gym years ago.

  Between the check inside her purse and her account at the bank, she had less than forty-five thousand dollars in cash. She went to where she’d hidden the Microsoft stocks and pulled out enough to be well over one hundred thousand dollars.

  A quick check of her phone showed no calls. What if they never called back? The notion soured her stomach.

  She texted Jenny’s number, hoping Kimi would read it. I’m getting your $, but I don’t know where you are.

  On the way to the bank, she took side roads keeping an eye out for any police officer behind her. If she was being followed, they were far better at doing it than she was at catching them.

  Inside, she walked up to a teller and handed them the check. “I’d like to cash this, please, and also take all the money from my accounts.”

  The teller raised her eyebrows. “You’ll have to see one of our Vice-Presidents for an amount this large.”

  “There’s enough in my retirement account should it bounce.” Tracy shifted from one foot to the other. She didn’t have time for all this nonsense. She’d clean out her retirement, but that could take days to complete.

  “Let me get someone to help you.” The girl walked over to a man sitting at a desk near the back of the bank. He raised his eyebrows when he saw the check. He got up and headed Tracy’s way.

  “Ms. Allen, I’m Herman Gilthrope. Please come this way.” He reminded her of DJ’
s teddy bear named Herman, with his large frame and hair thinning on top of his head. About the only difference was the bank manager wore wire-framed glasses on his nose.

  She wondered if DJ still had his bear with him. At least it would give him some comfort.

  Tracy followed Gilthrope to a back office where he closed the door. “It’s unusual to have such a large amount.”

  “I know, but I really need it.”

  He studied her a moment. “Do the police know?” he spoke under his breath. “They can help in situations like this.”

  Either he watched a lot of mystery television shows or he was good at reading people. She let out a loud breath. Her lip wobbled. “I need the money.”

  The phone rang on the corner of his desk. “Yes.” He listened to the person on the other end of the line. “Okay. No problem.” He hung up the phone and gave her a slight smile. “I needed to make sure the funds were available.”

  “Oh, okay.”

  “Do you have a bag, or will you need one?”

  She handed him the duffle bag she’d brought from home. “Will this be large enough?”

  “Perfect.” He glanced inside the partially open bag. “It’d take a while to sell those stocks, but if this person is dumb enough to cash them, good.” He zipped the bag. “I’ll be right back.” He got up and left the room.

  Tracy didn’t care if the police caught Kimi or not. She only cared about DJ’s safety.

  She placed her elbows on the table, her head in her trembling hands. She didn’t know how much more of this she could take. Why had Jenny gone after DJ on her own? Two would have been better than one.

  “Here you go.” Gilthrope returned to the room, the bag hanging at his side. “It’s heavy so I’ll carry it out for you.”

  “I appreciate that.” Tracy got up from the chair and led the way out the door with the bank manager following.

  “Tracy?”

  She stopped in her tracks. Patty Phillips was in line to see a teller.

  “What are you doing here?” Patty walked in front of the two, blocking their way to the door. “Mr. Gilthrope?” Patty’s eyes shifted to the large bag. Her brow knitted. “Is everything all right?”