by Mary Deal
Confused and holding the possible truth at bay till she knew for sure, Abi could barely walk as she and Joe made it to the Range Rover where they sat, numbed, shaking from both the shock and the cold. Her cell phone rang. She fumbled in her bag and finally found it.
Emery's jubilant voice came through the phone. “By now, you've heard. Right?”
“Wait Emery, please.” Abi couldn't feel her cold lips moving. She switched the phone to speaker so Joe could listen too. “We don't know how to thank you.”
“We all had a part in this.”
“How's Britto taking it, Emery?”
“Hey, Joe, you on too?” Emery didn't wait for an answer. “After we left the Governor's office, I thought Britto would go to pieces. He ducked into the washroom. When I went in to see what was keeping him, he was washing his face. His eyes were red. He must have been crying.”
Chapter 61
Two days later, Emery called with another update. “By now you've heard the great news.” His voice was jubilant. “Both Gary Croner and Sling confessed.”
Abi and Joe had watched the newscasts. Croner did not admit to all the crimes they suspected he committed. He did acknowledge that Sling was only present and did not participate at the first Yates fire.
“What else have you learned?”
“The first Yates fire was Dara Hines's idea, along with Tess Ulrich and two men accomplices. And those two men are already in prison for other crimes.”
Much to everyone's surprise, Croner admitted he never knew Megan Winnaker except from what he saw on television.
“Listen you two. I learned from Britto that when Sling made his plea bargain, it corroborated the little bit that Croner confessed to and sealed Croner's fate in many other cases.” Emery's voice was utterly upbeat. “Sling also named Croner and his cohorts as the ones who torched the fireworks factory and Abi's home.”
Dara Hines adamantly professed innocence in all charges, but after Sling's plea bargain, would need the best help she could get. Her wealthy father hired a hotshot attorney from Lawton. Try as he might, he was not able to get Dara released on bail because she was a flight risk.
“Thank you, Emery.” Abi's tears of happiness streamed down her face. But not because the perpetrators faced uncertain futures, maybe the ends of their lives, but because of Megan's unfaltering claim of innocence. Now, with Megan's help and understanding, Abi could find her daughter.
Abi continued to visit Megan every day while the expected legal maneuvering and paper work to get her release could be processed. They talked about Megan's accumulation of prison art and how they might locate Becky. Megan's mail rights were restored, but she received no replies to her emails. Becky could have skipped town, thinking Megan died.
After two weeks, Megan Winnaker received an unconditional pardon from the Governor and was exonerated and freed.
Strangely, Emery was the person Megan telephoned at the last minute to pick her up when she was released. This time Emery was despondent on the phone. “I'm in shock, Abi. I loaded her meager belongings into my trunk and we headed out.”
“Where were you going.”
“Back to Seaport. I was going to get her a small place to live till she could find better.”
“How could she just vanish?”
“I might have scared her. She and Becky still have that small charge of evidence tampering against them.”
“But switching the DNA blood broke the case. That should account for something.”
“They'll probably receive only a slap on the wrist for what they did, considering it was you, Abi, and not the police who ordered those tests.” He paused momentarily. “After I picked her up, she wanted to stop at one of those roadside places, have an ice cream cone. She was like a kid, talked about all the things she missed and all she was going to do.”
“That's the way she talked with me these last few days.”
“She conned me about wanting ice cream. She had it all planned and knew she couldn't get away with it if you picked her up.” Apology resounded with every word. There was no reason for him to go with her into the café but that was the last he saw of her.
“Did you look for her?”
“You bet I did, inside and out. Someone said they thought she hitched a ride with a trucker.” Emery sounded angry. He had every right to feel that way. He had placed his life on hold to help an innocent person and that was his thanks.
Abi wondered how Megan could be that ungrateful. “She might have conned me too.”
Two weeks passed. Abi and Joe drove around Creighton every chance they got and then gave up in disgust. Emery felt responsible because he was supposed to see that Megan testified at Dara's trial. Likewise, Becky was sought to testify about Gary Croner's whereabouts since he was one of the people who helped bring her to Seaport. In an uncanny twist, Abi was to testify against him in the fireworks fire, too, sealing the fate of the man who brought her daughter back home. Almost in desperation, Det. Britto now searched for both Megan and Becky, and had them listed on the N.C.I.C.
Abi and Joe paid Emery a visit in his office. “Excuse me for this, but I thought you and Megan, uh, that is….” She couldn't bring herself to say it.
He read her mind. “I liked her at first, admired her all these years.” He smiled sympathetically. “Once I met her, I realized she was only playing me in exchange for freedom.”
Abi reached to touch his hand. “Emery, I'm so sorry.”
“It's human nature, I guess. I ended up playing along so she wouldn't lose hope.”
It seemed Megan's idea of freedom might be to get as far away from Seaport as possible. The sad reality was that perhaps Becky Ann had gone with her.
In a last bid before Becky was declared missing again, Joe arranged for Abi to be interviewed by the local newspapers and TV news. Emery made arrangements for Abi to be filmed by Missing Persons. Seeing these as the very last opportunities to reach Becky, Abi meticulously wrote out what she wanted included in the taping. This could be her last chance to tell her daughter anything and she wanted her to know the truth. She nervously waited for the date of the taping. The show would air within days afterward.
Abi finally returned to her shop. Business remained brisk. She received several offers about producing a movie. Considering her life was incomplete without her daughter, she declined all offers and would never consider exploiting their lives anyway. She did not wish to be a spectacle any further. All she wanted was to settle peacefully with Becky in her newly rebuilt home when it was completed.
The insurance check had come through. Abi busied herself roughing out how she wanted her home rebuilt, but her emotions were not in it. She decided to add a separate studio in the back, in case Becky preferred to have more privacy than living in one of the upstairs bedrooms. Becky was, after all, a grown woman now. Or maybe she could use the space for her art work.
Abi returned to the pier one day. It was a much-loved spot for Becky as a child and became a place to remember her after she disappeared. Since Becky and Megan had planned to meet on the pier, and since it had been Becky's favorite place, perhaps Becky might return if only for a last look. Abi stood and stared far out to sea. The wind was brisk and soon blew away the clouds. The voices of the fishermen, noises of children playing and late winter tourists mingling, were all drowned out by her thoughts. When a seat on a bench became available, she sat and enjoyed the Seaport shoreline all the way to the lighthouse on the opposite end of the bay.
Later, as she found herself staring at the weathered planking of the pier, someone walked close wearing a new pair of Versace boots, then stopped in front of her. She didn't need to look up to know who it was. “Joe!” She stood and melted into his arms. They held together for a long while and then walked farther out. Lazy waves lapped against the pilings, the bay unexpectedly calm in the midst of winter. Joe congratulated an old fisherman who reeled in a catch. Finally, he turned to Abi and smiled hopefully. “I've found five acres down in the South Shore Es
tates that's got two houses on it.”
“Are you looking to get into real estate?” She really was distracted. All she could think about was how her daughter had not bothered to contact her, if only out of curiosity to see who she was.
“There's also a large ranch, on a few more acres, outside of Lawton.” His eyes begged.
Suddenly, they heard the noise of heavy equipment in the distance. They turned to see. On top of Monk's Hill, a monstrous grader and a backhoe worked to clear rocks from an area that had been marked off on the slope near the top, perhaps for a house pad. She looked at Joe. His eyes still begged. “Oh, no you don't, Joe Arno. Running from Margaret doesn't solve anything.”
He acted as if he had not heard, or perhaps had already made up his mind. “I've also found some warehouse space down south.” He took hold of her shoulders and turned her and pointed toward the opposite end of the Bay. “See that speck of white to the left of the lighthouse?”
She was familiar with the building. It contained a number of companies all prospering in an area of heavy business traffic. “You want to move both your home and studio?”
“I could expand my business, take on bigger jobs. Don't forget, your home and business is down in that direction too.”
Clearly, Joe still had difficulty with his feelings about Margaret. He had already proven he no longer loved her, but he was about to be tested over the long run. Now he would have to live with her in the same town. Maybe a move to Lawton would be wise. But then Abi had second thoughts.
One day in the kitchen, Joe had openly professed his love for her and told Margaret that Abi was the only woman he would marry. He had said it openly, not knowing that Abi was listening. It wasn't contrived. He really meant it. As long as she and Joe had known each other, he had stuck by her side through her ordeal. He had more than proved his love. It wouldn't matter where they lived. Yet, according to Megan, Becky knew both hers and Joe's present addresses, and wouldn't know how to find her in Lawton, if she ever came looking. “Tell me about those five acres.” At least, he living and working in the South Bay would put him in the vicinity south of her home and store. “Why two houses?”
He hugged her first. When he pulled away, his expression was full of hope. “One for you and me.” He pausing, watching her reaction. “One for Becky, because she's older now and might wish to live alone.”
The wind whipped around and lifted her collar and held it against the side of her face. “I love you for including Becky in your plans.”
“Are we any closer to marriage? What more do I need to do?”
She went into his arms again. She belonged there. “This will all work out.” She didn't want to voice the fact that she hoped Becky would be present when they married. If she expected to keep this man in her life, she was going to have to give him an answer, and soon.
Two days later, Abi's documentary for Missing Persons was taped. A gaudily dressed Stan Yates was present at the studio and making an ass of himself.
“I sure do appreciate you gettin' these TV people to do my movie, Joe. You're just one of those photojournalist guys, right? Your recordings always get chopped to hell before anything goes on TV, right? But I'm thinkin' these guys are the real deal.” His breath reeked of alcohol again.
“That's right. I'm just an amateur compared to these guys.”
Abi shook her head when they called Yates away for makeup. “Do you think that can be the last we'll see of him?”
“I've arranged for him to have his moment of limelight. That relieves me of my obligation.” Joe took her hand and headed for the exit. “I spoke to my buddies here. If they air any of his part, it's going to show him for the idiot that he is.”
A few days later, Abi had just finished hanging the framed computer-enhanced drawings of Becky and settled on the sofa to study them. Dinner was nearly done in the rotisserie and they had already prepared the rest of the meal. Cooking delightful meals provided great enjoyment since they began living together. Despite the circumstances, they were determined to make the most of life and found pleasure in sharing recipes, always cooking way too much food.
Abi entered the kitchen and glanced over the feast foods that she, Joe, and Edith had enjoyed preparing. “We've overdone it again, Edith. Whatever's left, please take some home.”
Edith spent more and more time with them, quietly on edge as much as they were about the unsolved situation with Becky and Megan. “Thank you. These leftovers will be a pleasure. I eat too many meals at The Beacon.”
Occasionally including Edith, who insisted on helping with the cooking, took their minds off the present predicament, if only momentarily. They always left the leaves in the table for extra space because they enjoyed fresh flowers and candles with their meals. They had invited Lindsay for dinner, beginning an effort to involve her more in their lives. Knowing exactly what she could contribute, Lindsay helped keep their lives on track, even if her efforts were behind the scenes. Tonight, Abi would offer her a full partnership in the new store.
Joe gathered up the picture-hanging tools and put them away while Abi and Edith sat to chat. The front doorbell chimed. Joe hurried to open the door to greet Lindsay, but suddenly gasped and stood frozen in place.
Chapter 62
“Does Abigail live here?” The female voice was quiet, soft.
Abi only saw the heavy coat and faded jeans and boots. Joe seemed paralyzed. She rose to join him in the foyer and when she saw the person's face, had to grab Joe's arm for support. “Becky?” Abi's tears spilled over. Becky's eyes were still black as obsidian, mysterious and haunting, her countenance the same as in the computer enhancements. “Becky!” She threw her arms around her daughter's neck but Becky's response was lackluster. Still, Abi pulled her into the foyer so Joe could close the door against the gusting wind and rain.
Joe was in shock. “I-I'll check the dinner.” He disappeared into the kitchen with Edith.
Abi took Becky's gloves and coat as they continued to stare at each other. Finally, Becky spoke. “But you're beautiful. Not like Daddy said.”
Preston's old lies had prompted those words, but Abi would not comment. She refrained from hugging Becky again, who remained stoic. Becky removed her cap. Her head was shaved. She looked at the clean hardwood floors and then took off her wet boots. They walked into the living room and sat together on the sofa.
Abi's heart fluttered. She brushed her hand against the pocket of her blazer and felt the bottle of nitro tablets inside. She stared at Becky and couldn't stop the tears. “I've always looked for you, Becky Ann.”
“Megan told me everything.” Becky's voice was without emotion. “Megan found me a few nights ago. She'd make a good detective.” Knowing the truth about her mother should make Becky feel something, but she remained cool. Something in the lives the two girls endured made them seem emotionless. Abi had first noticed it with Megan.
Abi understood completely. Becky's attitude said she was having an inner battle with her emotions. As a young girl, she was forced to forget a mother who supposedly deserted her. Now they sat together and Becky clearly knew the truth. “You and Megan are so close. Where is she now?”
Becky sighed, as if needing to take things slowly. She was prettier than the enhanced drawings and somehow, even fragile. “She'll be okay. We always take care of one another. That way we lived, Megan and me didn't like it.”
“Preston hid you among the Aryans, so I couldn't find you.”
Becky seemed hesitant and then finally turned her face to show where the mole had been. If anything, she had intuition and read her mother's mind. There was no trace, not even an indentation. Abi hesitated, then reached up and touched her daughter's face.
Becky allowed her the touch. “He never hurt me. He was just hard-ass mean and strict.”
“Megan told you the truth, didn't she?”
“Megan explained. You are my mother.” Becky showed no excitement but studied Abi curiously. Perhaps the truth of the situation had not set in f
or her as well.
Dishes clinked in the dining area and through tearful eyes, Abi saw Edith setting another place while Joe dabbed at his eyes.
The doorbell rang again and Joe ran to the foyer. Again, he stood motionless. A cold, damp rush of air swept through the room. Abi and Becky stood and moved so they could see. Megan stood in the doorway and suddenly Joe swooped her up. “You're free!” He crushed her in his arms as he swung her side to side. “Thank God, you're free!”
Emery appeared behind Megan, smiling joyously as they stepped inside. They both tripped over Becky's boots and had a good laugh as they removed their own footwear. Emery carried a large battered artist's tablet bound with a wide rubber strap and wrapped in clear plastic. “We've cause to celebrate.” He removed the wet covering from the tablet.
“Not till I apologize.” Megan rushed to Abi. “If you hate me the rest of your life, I'll understand.”
“Megan, how can I—”
She put a finger to her lips. “Sh-h-h. I used you. I was desperate. You didn't deserve the hurt I caused.”
“Megan, can we get past this? You're alive, and you've given me back my daughter.”
Megan hugged Abi and whispered into her ear, “Please forgive me, from your heart. Please.”
Abi held her tightly. In different ways, through the years, this innocent young woman had suffered as much as she had. “I forgive you, Megan.” Abi also whispered because her strength was ebbing. “From my heart.” Megan held her tightly and Abi was sure Megan didn't want to let go.
Before sitting, Megan reached for the art tablet that Emery held. She offered it to Abi. “Rae and me, uh… I mean, Becky and me, we want you to have this.”
Abi took the art tablet. Her hands shook.
“Megan and me drew each other on our birthdays.” Becky seemed utterly pleased, a first sign of emotion. “You can see what I looked like each year as I was growing up.”
“Maybe.” Megan laughing lightly. “If my art was any good back then.”
