by K. A. Davis
Claire held up her hand to stop Caroline and then crawled to the edge of the road and vomited. Lying down on the hard-packed sand she curled into the fetal position and wept.
Shaken, Caroline looked at Diane.
Diane shook her head and held her index finger to her lips. “Give her some space,” she whispered.
***
Jill was waiting on the porch when they pulled in the drive at Windward Cottage. Claire walked past Jill like a zombie. Jill watched her pass and then hurried to the car to help with the bikes. “What happened? What’s wrong with Claire?
“Let’s go inside and I’ll tell you everything,” Diane said.
Ike was excited to see Claire, but she barely acknowledged him. He followed her up the stairs and laid down beside the bathtub as she lowered herself into the steaming water. She washed her hair vigorously and scrubbed her body with soap and a stiff brush in an attempt to rid herself of the invisible filth. The harder she scrubbed, the harder she sobbed. Finally, lying back in the tub she closed her eyes and tried to erase the images of the children seared into her brain. It was no good. Her muscles would heal but she knew her mind never would. All those children. Their terror and pain. What about their families? She vowed she would make him pay.
***
Claire didn’t come down for dinner.
Diane told Jill and Caroline everything they had seen in Wendell’s house.
“Dear God, she must be devastated,” Caroline said, pushing her plate of half eaten food away. “I can’t imagine what she’s going through.”
Jill stood up and started to clear the table. “Where do we go from here, Diane?”
“I don’t know. We have to wait until Claire’s ready to talk and then decide.”
Ike wandered into the kitchen head down and dragging his feet.
“Oh, poor guy,” Caroline said, reaching down and rubbing his back. “He really loves her.”
“Do you think we should call the police,” Jill asked, opening the back door for Ike.
Diane responded sharply. “Surely, you don’t mean the local police? Chief Peterson is totally worthless, and I’m sure poor, Deputy O’Reilly isn’t allowed to take on any responsibility for fear of upstaging Peterson. No, we’ll wait and see what Claire says.”
“What about Spence or her brother Will?” Jill inquired.
“I think that’s Claire’s decision. She has to be a wreck after seeing those pictures.”
“Did you look at them Diane?” Caroline asked, meekly.
“I only got a glimpse before Claire charged out of the room. I’m pretty sure she got most of them on her phone. It took real strength to keep shooting when she saw what the pictures were. And so many, my God, I can’t believe it.”
Ike pawed at the screen door. Jill let him in and locked both doors behind him. The women followed him into the parlor. Ike slowly climbed the stairs while the women took seats; each picked up a book, or a magazine, in a useless attempt to occupy their minds.
Finally, Diane threw her book on the coffee table with a slap that made Jill and Caroline jump. “Jill, have you heard from Drew?”
“No. Not a word,” Jill answered.
“How much do you really know about him, Jill?”
Jill looked up wearily and answered. “He has been divorced for over ten years. He says he and his wife parted friends; they had grown apart. Her name is Melinda. She’s a nurse. She blamed him for working too much and he thinks she was probably right. They have two grown kids, a girl and a boy; and three grandchildren. She remarried about five years ago, a doctor from the hospital where she worked, and apparently is happy as a clam now.”
“What about him personally?” Caroline asked.
Jill looked like she was ready to cry.
“This is ridiculous. There is nothing strange about Drew. He’s very nice, as normal as we are.”
Jill closed her eyes and then opened them suddenly and looked directly at Caroline.
“I don’t know what you want me to say, Caroline. We like being together. It’s comfortable. We like the same music, the same jokes, some of the same movies and books.” Looking up she added, “If you’re asking if he’s acted inappropriately in any way, the answer is no. There’s definitely an attraction but neither one of us has acted on it. Come on…we’re mature adults, not teenie boppers with raging hormones,” Jill giggled, “Well…maybe there’s a little elevation in hormones.”
“Have you seen anything at his cottage that may be out of character for a consultant?” Diane pushed.
“Like what? I don’t know what’s normal for someone who does his kind of work,” Jill replied, defensively.
“What’s his cottage like?” Caroline asked, using a lighter tone.
Feeling less under attack Jill looked at Caroline. “He’s a very neat person. Let’s the dishes pile up a bit, but other than that it looks fine.”
“What about the bedroom?” Diane quizzed.
Jill glared at Diane. “I have not been in his bedroom. I have no clue what it looks like.”
Caroline perked up and with interest asked, “Have you been in his bathroom?”
“Honestly, you two. Yes, I used his bathroom once. What are you after?”
Diane moved forward on the sofa and rested her forearms on her thighs. “I think we need to be sure he can be trusted.”
Caroline thought she saw a flicker of doubt sweep across Jill’s face for just a split second. “What did you see in the bathroom, Jill?”
Jill curled the edges of the magazine in her lap and then looked up. “There were a lot of pill bottles. More than you would think a healthy man would have.”
“Did you read the labels?” Diane asked.
Jill hesitated looking guilty. “Yes.”
“Well…?” Caroline insisted, impatiently.
“There were a lot of vitamins, blood pressure medicine, an anti-anxiety, eye drops…and several prescription sleeping pills. I thought it was unusual to have so many sleeping pills.”
“Maybe we better pay a little visit to his cottage tomorrow,” Diane suggested.
“No. Diane really,” Jill said, in earnest. “Drew’s okay. I’m sure of it. What could he possibly have to do with the children, or Wendell, for that matter?”
“I don’t know,” Diane admitted. “But, I think we have to suspect everyone in the area. How could that many children disappear and nobody knew about it? There were so many pictures that you would think it would have made the national news. I have a real bad feeling about this.”
“I need a drink,” Jill said, getting up and going to the kitchen. She returned with a bottle of wine and glasses. “Let’s go to the roof and try to enjoy the rest of the evening.”
***
It was a calm evening as Jill, Caroline, and Diane sat quietly sipping wine and looking at the ocean.
Caroline interrupted the quiet. “Since we appear to be into solving mysteries… how do you think the fire in the parlor gets started?”
“Good question. I wish I knew,” Jill said.
Diane took a sip of wine and looked at her friends. “I know this sounds paranoid, but I wonder if Wendell somehow has it rigged. Nah, that can’t be because it’s real wood and not a gas fireplace.”
“But how can anyone get into this house long enough to prepare a fire when we have been so careful to lock up, and we have Ike who hasn’t caught anyone?” Jill returned.
Diane shook her head and yawned.
“Your guess is as good as mine Jill. The realtor has a key. Maybe someone else has keys. Secret passage?”
Hearing the door from the third floor open the women turned to see Claire and Ike step onto the roof. Claire was wrapped in a blanket from her bed. With Ike following her she slowly walked to the edge of the roof and took a deep breath. As her friends watched, she paced the perimeter of the roof just as Ike had done. When she got to the side of the house that faced in the direction of Wendell’s cottage she stopped. She stood still for a few m
inutes and then started walking again.
“You okay, Claire?” Diane asked.
Claire turned and approached her friends. “Hi. Sorry I missed dinner.”
“No problem,” Jill answered. “It was just beef Wellington, twice baked potatoes, green beans almandine, and baked Alaska for dessert.”
Claire smiled. “Funny, it smelled like beans and franks.”
Getting the result she wanted, Jill stood up from her plastic webbed, lawn chair and hugged her friend. “We’re so sorry about what you found.”
Claire nodded and sat down, adjusting her blanket more closely around her body. “So, where’s the wine?”
Jill poured a glass and handed it to her.
“Claire, have you eaten anything?” Caroline asked.
“Yes, thanks. I made myself a sandwich.”
“What’s next Claire?” Diane asked, knowing her friend well.
“I can’t let this go. I have to find the answers.”
“I didn’t expect anything less,” Diane replied. “I can’t speak for Jill and Caroline, but I’m with you all the way.”
“I’m worried I’ve put us in danger.”
“What do you mean?” Diane asked.
“The cameras. Do you think they recorded us when we approached the house today?”
Diane tensed. “I suppose, if they were recording. No sense having cameras and not using them.”
“Then we’re going to have to be extremely careful. I think it’s up to us to solve this. For whatever reason, he’s gotten away with it for over forty years. I want him to fry.”
Caroline’s voice shook with emotion. “I’m in Claire.”
“Me too,” Jill said.
“Do you have a plan?” Diane questioned.
“You mean besides cutting the bastard’s balls off?” Claire asked.
“Well, yeah, but maybe something within the law.”
Claire took a huge gulp of wine and turned her chair to face her friends. “We need to get as much background on all those children as we can. We have no computer service here so we’re going to have to see where we can get it in Haworth; probably the public library. If you don’t mind spending the time, I’d appreciate your help researching. Once we have collected as much data as possible we’ll decide what to do next.”
“Why can’t we just go to the authorities with what you found?” Jill asked.
“Two reasons. One, we, in essence, broke into his house; and number two, because I don’t trust them. How could they have not suspected something all these years? How could that many children disappear without someone being suspicious? There are too many unanswered questions.”
Jill’s cell phone rang. Looking at the screen she smiled. “It’s Drew. Hello. Good and you?” Jill walked to the edge of the roof for privacy.
Caroline swirled her wineglass and looked at Claire. “Are you still uneasy about Drew?”
Claire took her time answering. “I really hate to sound neurotic… but, right now, I don’t trust anyone. Drew has given us no reason to be suspicious. I was overprotective of Jill in the beginning, but now I’m more frightened of the unknown. And, let’s face it, we don’t know him from Adam, and he IS moving fast with Jill. Do you agree or do you think it’s just me?”
“I think Drew and Jill found a real connection. I hope he’s sincere because I don’t want to see her hurt. Until we have something on him, I’m in his court. On the matter of what you found today, I think you had an incredible shock and especially when one of the children was a childhood friend. That has to be traumatic.” Caroline leaned toward Diane. “What do you think, Diane?”
“I agree with both of you. I think, for peace of mind for all of us, we have to do something even if all we do is draw attention to this to get the authorities involved. Claire’s right about Chief Peterson, there’s something not quite right about him. Either he doesn’t really care or he’s just plain stupid. I can’t really get a handle on it. Maybe it’s nothing more than he’s close enough to retirement that he just wants to get through his last years without any problems. At any rate, I think we have to help Claire.”
Jill was walking back and forth along the roof phone to her ear.
“Looks like it’s going to be a long conversation,” Diane noted, ruffling her short hair.
“You do know, I only wish the best for her don’t you?” Claire said, looking from Diane to Caroline.
“Yes, of course we do,” Caroline answered.
Diane shifted in her chair. “Claire, would you like me to ask Ed to investigate Wendell?”
“Would he do that?”
“I think so. I should check in with him anyway. I’ll give him a call first thing in the morning.”
Jill finally re-joined the group.
“Well?” Claire asked, raising one eyebrow.
“Oh Claire, you’re so silly. He just called to see how we were getting along and if Ike was giving us any trouble. He’s genuinely concerned about us.”
Claire suddenly sat up straighter and blurted out, “You didn’t tell him about us going to Wendell’s today did you?’
“No, you don’t need to worry, I didn’t mention it. I didn’t think you’d want me to.”
“Thank you. Right now I think the fewer people who know the better.”
Jill covered her legs with a blanket and picked up her wine glass. “What did I miss?”
“Nothing really,” Diane said. “We were just talking about what to do next. Claire do you have any more ideas?”
“Only that I think two of us should go to the library to do research in the morning and the other two should search this house from top to bottom to see if we can figure out how someone is getting in.”
Diane broke in. “Claire, I think you should let someone else do the research. You had enough of a shock seeing those pictures. If we turn up anything you need some time to prepare mentally to deal with it.”
“Good idea,” Caroline said, pushing her glasses up on her nose. “I volunteer to go to the library. Who wants to go with me?”
“I’ll go,” Jill offered. “I like research.”
“Good. Claire and I will stay here and search the house,” Diane said.
The wind picked up and clouds swiftly moved across the sky. Within minutes rain drops were pelting the women.
Ike ran for the door and barked.
“We better take these chairs downstairs in case we get high wind,” Jill said.
Stashing the chairs in the third floor hallway, the women continued down to the first floor. In the kitchen they washed the glasses, discarded the wine bottle, and let Ike out for his final bathroom break. Splitting up they checked all the windows and doors and met in the parlor.
“Did any one notice?” Diane asked.
“There’s no fire…,” Caroline said.
“Is that good news or bad?” Jill inquired.
“I’m relieved. Maybe we can get a good night’s sleep,” Claire said, sighing.
The wind and rain pounded the outside of Windward Cottage with vengeance.
“We’re going to need some extra blankets tonight,” Caroline said, ascending the stairs. “Has anyone seen a linen closet?”
“Closets were rare in this age of house,” Jill replied. “Let’s see what we can find.”
The second and third floors were searched but yielded no linen closet.
“Found a blanket,” Diane yelled, from the second floor landing. “Look in the bureaus in your rooms.”
Blankets were pulled from drawers and soon covered the beds with the women snuggled under them.
“You okay?” Jill asked Claire. “Would you like the light on?”
“I’m fine, Jill. You can turn out the light.”
Claire closed her eyes and listened to the storm. Normally, she liked the sound of the rain on the roof but tonight; rather than soothe her, it set her nerves on edge. Jill started snoring. Claire put her pillow over her head, but Jill was snoring louder than the storm. Claire
finally decided to get up. Feeling around for her book, and dragging her blanket, she tip-toed out of the room and down to the parlor. Ike padded silently behind her.
Once submerged in the overstuffed sofa, she opened her book and tried to read with Ike settled beside the sofa. His even breathing soon coaxed Claire into a restless sleep. She saw the little girl again. This time she seemed to be sitting on the sofa with Claire. It wasn’t just any little girl, it was Betsy. Claire tossed and turned. Her tears soaked the throw pillow under her head. Betsy looked as she had in the picture, dirty and frightened. Claire reached out for her. Together they cried. Claire cradled the child in her arms and tried to comfort her.
Chapter Eight
Thursday
A loud clap of thunder woke Claire. She felt a warm body next to hers. Opening her eyes she found Ike sound asleep on the sofa with her.
“Okay, big boy, time to go out!” she whispered, patting him gently.
Ike turned his head and licked Claire’s face before jumping to the floor and lumbering toward the kitchen.
Yawning, Claire stretched and looked around. Not a bad night considering she thought, pushing herself up and out of the sofa.
Ike was waiting for her at the back door.
It was barely dawn and the rain was coming down in buckets.
“Ike, I love you, but I’m not going out in that.” Opening the door she added, “Hurry and get back here as fast as you can.”
Turning back to the kitchen Claire filled the coffee maker and opened the refrigerator to retrieve bacon and eggs. A scratch at the door told her Ike was ready to come back in. Ike waited until he was in the middle of the kitchen to shake his rain soaked coat. Water flew everywhere with the final drops propelled off his tail directly at Claire.
“Oh, Ike, for crying out loud. Sit. Stay.” Claire grabbed a towel and dried Ike and then the surrounding furniture and floor. Claire was on her hands and knees when Jill entered the room.
