***
Alex took a sip from the cold cup of coffee beside her. “Gross,” she shuddered. Her eyes returned to the computer screen in front of her. “Who are you?” she mused.
“Momma?”
“Abby?”
Abby looked up at Alex. “Mommy’s sick.”
Alex smiled reassuringly at her daughter. “She is, huh?”
Abby nodded. “She’s in the bathroom.”
Alex closed her computer and pulled Abby onto her lap. “Mommy’s tummy is a little upset is all.”
“How come?”
Alex and Cassidy had not told their younger children about Cassidy’s pregnancy yet. It seemed clear that the time had come. “Where’s your brother?” Alex asked.
“Playing in the bedroom.”
“What do you say, you go find Connor and Kenzie and I’ll go check on Mommy? Maybe we can all sit down here and have a talk.”
“But Mommy’s sick.”
Alex kissed Abby’s cheek. “I promise; Mommy is okay. You go find your brother and sister and I’ll take care of Mommy.”
Abby’s reluctance was obvious. “Momma?”
“Yes?”
“Mommy doesn’t get sick.”
Alex forced herself not to laugh. Cassidy had suffered through more than a few cases of the flu or a nasty cold. She had four children to deal with. Seldom did Cassidy let her children know how sick she was. Abby clearly thought her Mommy was Wonder Woman. “She’ll be okay, sweetie. Now, go find Connor and Kenzie.”
“What about D.?”
Alex smiled. “Dylan is at Maggie’s. He’ll be home later.”
“I can call him?”
Alex smiled. Abby was so serious she couldn’t refuse. She pulled her phone out of her pocket. “Now, when he answers you tell him who it is and what you want.”
Abby nodded and Alex handed her the phone.
“D., it’s me!”
“Abby?”
“Yep. Come home.”
Alex covered her face to keep from laughing.
“Abby? Why do you have Momma’s phone?” Dylan asked.
“Cause Mommy’s sick.”
“Mom is sick? Abby, is Momma there?”
“Yep.”
“Could I please talk to her?”
“Nope.”
“No?”
“Nope. You come home, D,” Abby said firmly.
Alex had to bite her lip to keep her laughter in check. “Abby, let me talk to Dylan, okay? You go find your brother and sister.” Abby huffed but handed Alex the phone. “Dylan?”
“Alex, is mom okay?”
“She’s not dying if that’s what you mean. Although, I suspect there are some moments she wishes she would right now.”
“Oh, no.”
“I’m about to go check on her. She was fine when she went upstairs. I think it might be time we told your brother and sisters what’s going on.”
“I’ll be home in about twenty minutes.”
“Maggie is welcome,” Alex said.
“Thanks. We were wrapping up anyway.”
“Okay. I’ll see you in a few,” Alex said. She looked back at her laptop and took a deep breath. Work would have to wait.
Alex stepped into the bedroom just as Cassidy was emerging from the bathroom. “How many speckles did you count?”
Cassidy shook her head. “I was too busy gripping the toilet bowl.”
“I’m sorry, Cass.”
“I’m all right. Doesn’t seem to last too long. I thought you were working downstairs?”
“I was.”
“Did something happen?” Cassidy asked, expecting that Alex came up to tell her that she was leaving.
“Abby happened.”
“Abby happened?”
“Yep. She must’ve gone looking for you.”
“Oh, no.”
Alex nodded. “I think it’s time, Cass. She was a little freaked out by the Exorcist impression you had going on in there.”
Cassidy chuckled. “I think my head might actually have spun around a few times on that one.”
“I asked her to get the kids.”
“I wish Dylan was here.”
“He’s on his way home now.”
“You called him?” Cassidy was shocked.
“Not exactly. Abby did. Well, Abby had me call so she could talk to him.”
Cassidy laughed. “What did you tell him?”
“The truth.”
Cassidy exhaled forcefully. “Do me a favor?”
“Sure.”
“Give me a few minutes to put myself back together?” Cassidy requested. Alex nodded. “And, Alex?”
“Yeah?”
“I’m sorry if this interrupted you. I know…”
Alex waved off Cassidy’s concern. “It was going to be a long night no matter what.”
Cassidy watched Alex leave and took a deep breath to stave off a wave of nausea. She looked down at her belly. “Behave, kiddo.”
***
“Long day, Mr. Duncan?”
“You could say that, Brandon.”
“Seems like it’s busier than normal around here,” the security guard observed. “Everybody’s on overtime.”
“It’s that time of year.”
“I’ll bet all those girls they keep finding are good for your business.”
Bryce flinched. “That’s a bit callous, don’t you think?”
Brandon shrugged. “I know my wife wants a security system. She says you can’t trust anybody anymore.”
“You live nearby, don’t you?” Bryce asked.
“Stratford.”
“I think you can reassure your wife that she’s as safe as she was before all this craziness.”
“Really? They found all those girls.”
Bryce smiled. “I don’t think Stratford’s in this guy’s path.”
“Well, you’d know better than me, Mr. Duncan.”
“Just going on what they’ve said on the news.”
“My mother always said not to trust what the news says.”
“Have a good night, Brandon,” Bryce laughed.
Brandon watched Bryce Duncan pull past the guard gate. “I wonder where he’s headed now?”
***
“What are you thinking about?” Hawk asked Claire.
Claire’s fingertips traced faint circles over Hawk’s chest. “I wonder who they were.”
“Who?”
“Those girls,” Claire said so softly that Hawk almost didn’t hear her.
Hawk pulled Claire closer.
“He strangled them,” Claire said.
“I thought most of the deaths were undetermined?”
“Technically,” Claire said. “I don’t know about the stabbing. I mean Kaylee and Deidre. I think that’s some sadistic turn on or something. The strangling? That’s his power.”
“Claire…”
Claire closed her eyes and nestled closer to her lover. “Ever see someone choked to death?”
“Claire…”
“First it’s gasping. You can hear it until the pressure increases. Then? Then it’s silence and flailing, and fear. You can feel it—the fear.”
Hawk held Claire securely. “I wish you had never had to see that.”
“What could they have done to deserve that?” Claire sighed. “Eaves thinks one of them was about sixteen. That’s even younger than Kaylee.”
“Claire, if this case is too much…”
Claire shook her head. “No. We need to find him. I need to find him.”
With a deep breath, Hawk shifted to look at Claire. She brushed a strand of red hair out of Claire’s eyes. “You will.”
“I couldn’t save her,” Claire said. “I couldn’t stop him.”
Hawk kissed Claire on the forehead gently. Claire’s memory of watching her father strangle her mother with his bare hands would haunt her for the rest of her life. Hawk understood that some things could never be forgotten, perhaps not even shelved. Claire’s
mother had been Claire’s light. She would forever mourn that loss. In some way, Hawk understood that solving this case would both torment and help Claire to heal.
“I love you, Claire.”
Claire smiled. Hawk had accepted her without conditions. Claire had never thought she could love anyone but Eleana. Part of her would always love Eleana. Nothing could change that. Charlie Hawkins held Claire’s heart in a completely different way—she held it knowing all of Claire’s demons and all of Claire’s questions. Claire had struggled to say the words to Eleana, “I love you.” There remained moments when the sound of the words as they escaped her lips sounded foreign to her ears, as if she were speaking another language. She would not make that mistake again. Choice. It all came down to her choices, that’s what Hawk had said.
“What?” Hawk asked as silence lingered.
Claire placed a gentle kiss on Hawk’s lips. “I love you too.”
Hawk smiled. “There’s hope for you yet.”
***
Alex took Cassidy’s hand. “Are you up to this?”
Cassidy winked.
“Is somebody else moving in?” Mackenzie looked at her parents expectantly.
“What?” Alex asked.
“Well, Grandpa moved in,” Mackenzie explained her logic. “You made us all sit down when you told us that.”
Cassidy grinned. “She’s got you there,” she whispered in Alex’s ear. She looked at the three children sitting in front of her. “Well, Kenz you’re on the right track.”
“YaYa?” Mackenzie asked.
“No,” Alex laughed. “YaYa and Grandma are happy where they are, I think.”
“Who?” Mackenzie asked.
Connor pulled on Mackenzie’s shirt and she turned to him. “Somebody’s coming to live here with us,” she told her little brother.
“Maggie?” Connor bounced.
Dylan coughed. “Umm, no. Sorry, buddy,” he shook his head.
Cassidy chuckled. “Not Maggie,” she said. “This person will be quite a bit smaller.”
Three sets of eyes looked at Cassidy with confusion then tracked to Alex.
“You’re all going to have a new brother or sister,” Alex told them.
“Who?” Abby asked.
Dylan laughed. “We have to wait to find that out,” Dylan spoke up.
“Why?” Connor wanted to know.
Alex looked to Dylan, indicating he should run with his explanation.
“Mom is having a baby,” Dylan said. “And that takes time.”
Mackenzie looked directly at Cassidy. “Just one?”
Cassidy lost all hope of maintaining composure and erupted in laughter. “I hope so.”
Alex rolled her eyes.
“When do we meet him?” Connor asked.
“Always a him in this family,” Cassidy commented.
“Around Christmas,” Alex said.
“But Mommy is sick,” Abby said.
Cassidy smiled at Abby. “I know it seems like that,” she said. “That’s just because I have to get used to carrying the baby. I’m not sick, sweetie. It just takes a little time. In a couple of weeks, I will feel much better—honest.”
“Where is he?” Connor asked.
Mackenzie rolled her eyes and pointed to Cassidy’s stomach. “In there, like in Auntie El’s.”
Connor wrinkled his nose. “In there?” he asked.
Alex nodded. “Just like you were,” she said.
Connor shrugged. “Can I talk to him?”
Cassidy lifted her brow. She suddenly had visions of Connor and Alex building tin can telephones to speak with the baby. Oh, boy. “I suppose you could,” she said.
Connor walked up to Cassidy and put his mouth directly on front of her stomach. “Hi!”
Cassidy looked at him and felt her heart swell. Alex met her gaze and smiled.
“He’s not listening anyway,” Mackenzie said. “You have to wait a while. Then you can make him somersault.” All eyes turned to Mackenzie to explain. “It’s true! Momma used to make me somersault. She told me.”
Cassidy looked at Alex with a raised brow. Alex shrugged. “Well, that is interesting, Kenz,” Cassidy said. “Your Momma talked to all of you,” she said. Dylan looked down. Cassidy sighed. “Maybe Momma can tell you all about it over some cookies in the kitchen,” Cassidy suggested.
Mackenzie sprung to her feet. “I’m in!”
Alex watched their three youngest children sprint toward the kitchen. She turned to Cassidy and noticed Dylan was gazing at his feet. Cassidy’s silent arched eyebrow told Alex to give her a minute with their son. Alex nodded. “I’ll save you a cookie,” she promised.
Cassidy regarded Dylan thoughtfully for a moment before speaking. “She talked to you all the time too when you didn’t know it.”
Dylan looked up.
Cassidy smiled. “I used to catch her in your bedroom talking to you when you were asleep,” she explained. “You know, she still goes in there when you are away.”
“It’s stupid, I know,” Dylan said.
“No, it’s not,” Cassidy disagreed. “I understand. You feel you missed something with Alex.”
“That’s no one’s fault,” he offered.
“Doesn’t mean it doesn’t hurt,” Cassidy said. “I understand more than you think.”
Dylan sighed.
“Sometimes, I see you sitting with Grandpa—you might just be talking with him and I feel so alone.”
Dylan cocked his head curiously. “Mom?”
“It’s true. I’m grateful that you have him in your life. I’m glad that he’s in mine, but I missed so much with him,” she explained. “He missed my first boyfriend. He missed my prom, my wedding—both of them. He missed seeing you be born. Seeing Kenzie be born—so many things, Dylan. As happy as it makes me that you and your sisters and brother get to have those things with him; sometimes? Sometimes, it makes me a little sad. Maybe even a little jealous.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be,” Cassidy said. “He loves me. I know that. I know that if he could get that time back, he would be here for all of it. Just remember the same is true with Alex.” Cassidy shook her head. She felt tears building in her eyes.
“Mom?”
“She loves you so much, Dylan. Do you know that she made me tell her everything I could remember about being pregnant with you? She wanted to know when you took your first step—everything. Every time Kenzie did something, Alex would get so excited. Later, she would get quiet. It took me a while to realize why. She was thinking about you, wondering when you did those things. The truth is, most of us forget more details than we’d like. Alex? She remembers them all,” Cassidy laughed.
“I know. I wish it didn’t make me feel like…”
“Like you missed something?”
Dylan nodded.
“You both did,” Cassidy said honestly. “Surprised I’d say that? It’s the truth. But, Dylan we all miss certain things. I missed Connor’s first step. I missed Kenzie’s first word. It’s what you do share that matters.”
Dylan nodded. “Mom?”
“Hum?”
“Maybe you should take your own advice.”
Cassidy grinned. “Maybe.”
***
“You look tired,” Alex observed.
Claire shrugged. “Spent the night with Hawk.”
“Uh-huh. Is that a good tired or an I don’t want to talk about it tired?” Alex asked.
“Both. You look a little worn yourself.”
“I was up all night looking through the landscapers’ personnel files.”
“Find anything?” Claire wondered.
“Lots of things. I just don’t know if any matter,” Alex replied. “Three names kept popping out at me.”
“They worked on Mrs. Moriarty’s property?”
“That’s the thing,” Alex said. “I can’t find any details of who worked at what property.”
“So, what made them stand out?”
“Timing,” Alex said. “All were employed between 2004 and 2008.”
“Let me guess; we’re on our way to check them out.”
“Well, we are on our way to talk to one of them.”
“Do tell.”
Alex focused on the road in front of her. “Look in that file on the backseat.”
Claire retrieved the folder and opened it.
Mark Jacobs
315 Sunnymade Drive
Agawam, Massachusetts
“Based on this he doesn’t fit our profile,” Claire commented as she continued to read. “Says he’s a pharmacist in Agawam. Not exactly someone who’s on the road frequently.”
“That’s why I want to talk to him first. I want to see what he remembers about who was working at Greenscape during that time.”
“What aren’t you saying?”
Alex shrugged. “When I was talking to the owner yesterday, he got skittish when I started asking about how many people they employ.”
“You think he’s hiding something?” Claire asked.
“About the killer? No. He’s not the original owner. I suspect he might be engaged in similar hiring practices. I’d bet Greenscape has a long history of hiring off the books help. Certainly, would have helped if the same family owned it now.”
“I wonder why they don’t. Think Jacobs knows something?”
“Well, based on everything I read about Mr. Jacobs, I’m convinced he is not the person we are looking for. That doesn’t mean he doesn’t know the person we are looking for. I suspect he has nothing to hide. That means he’s apt to be forthcoming with everything and anything he recalls. That might just give us a starting point.”
Claire nodded and then looked out the window beside her.
“How did you make out with Agent Eaves yesterday?” Alex asked.
“It’ll be slow,” Claire replied. “Identifying them. Two interesting things.”
“Care to share?”
“Well, the girl who was buried apart from the rest?”
“Yeah?”
“Eaves thinks she was younger, probably around sixteen.”
Alex’s jaw tensed.
“And, that fabric that was stuck to the top of her ribcage?”
“Yeah?”
“Eaves is pretty sure it had some writing or a logo on it. With the light on the table you could see the white outline.”
Untold Page 26
