A Dangerous Snag (An East Pender Cozy Mystery Book 8)

by Leona Fox

  “Who was that?” Ellen asked as she approached Kelly. Kelly shrugged.

  “I didn't ask his name.”

  The man looked unfamiliar to Ellen but she had other things on her mind and let the thought slip away. There were so many people teeming about that one man didn't seem to make a difference. After her chat with Andrea, Ellen had walked around and talked to a number of other people. While it had quelled her immediate anger toward Andy, they all were asking about him and she hated having to lie for him. She found herself checking her watch and looking toward the road, hoping against hope that Andy and May would come down and he would make everything right again. People were beginning to languish hope. On more than one occasion she overheard people wondering about the futility of it all. They commented that the boy most likely was done for, although they clammed up when they saw Ellen glaring at them. Still, she had to admit she harbored some of the same doubts herself. Yet she never would have given voice to them, especially not in the presence of Andrea. Her only hope was that these people used discretion. Andrea was fragile and it wouldn't take much for her to collapse into despair.

  Over time, people returned from searching with heavy looks on their faces. Every time someone emerged from the woods Andrea would look with hope, then sink back into sadness when she saw Scott wasn't with them. Eventually, people came up to Ellen her and took her aside to speak with her privately.

  “Ellen, this just isn't working. The woods are too big. There's too much ground to cover and we haven't found any more scraps of clothing or clues. We're roaming about out there not getting anything done. Surely there's got to be a better use of our time? Right now the only way we're going to find Scott is through blind luck,” one man said. Ellen looked at a few other people who were standing around her and saw them nodding in agreement.

  “What would you have us do?” she asked.

  “I don't know, but I think we need something more aggressive. Can't we do something like before and pretend there's a fire to smoke them out? There has to be something more we can do...but I'm afraid...” At this point he looked around to make sure they were out of Andrea's earshot and then lowered his voice to ensure nobody would overhear him.

  “I'm afraid that even if we find the kid it isn't going to be pretty. I just think we should prepare ourselves for that eventuality, and prepare her, too,” he said, tossing his head toward Andrea.

  “I understand your feelings but we can't stop now. We have to keep searching. Scott is out there somewhere, still alive. I have to believe that, we all have to believe that. I know it doesn't feel like we're accomplishing anything but if we keep going we'll find him eventually. I don't think there's anything aggressive we can do, at least not yet, not until we know the location of where he's being held.”

  “For all we know they may not even be in the woods. We only found the scrap of clothing in there but whomever took Scott could have carried him off anywhere,” someone else said, and this statement was met with audible groans. Ellen stretched out her open palms in an effort to calm everyone down.

  “We have put out a notice to people in surrounding towns, so the word is out there. As of yet nobody has spoken up, so my feeling is they're still in East Pender. Our best bet is to keep looking, and if we continue working together then we'll get it done. We've proven that in the past. We all know there's something special about this town. Look at how many people have come together already. We just need to stay the course and trust in ourselves.”

  As she said this she noticed that most of the people around her gave assenting nods, but a few still remained skeptical and one of them gave voice to another concern.

  “You keep saying we, and that's fine, but where has Andy been in all of this? Everyone has been pulling their weight except for him. I don't know what he's doing but he's not here, and it seems strange to ask us to give up all this time when he hasn't been around.”

  “Andy is orchestrating things--” Ellen began.

  “’--behind the scenes.’ Yes, we know that,” the man said, finishing Ellen's sentence for her.

  “That's all well and good but surely that can't take up all his time? Does he not have an hour to spare when we all know the situation needs as many people as it can get?”

  “He will be here soon,” Ellen said. She hating making a promise that could prove to be false but it was the only way she could silence their grievances.

  As soon as she was able she returned to Andy's house and found May still speaking to him, still trying to rouse him out of his daze. When Ellen arrived she pulled May aside.

  “I thought you said he'd be better by now? People are starting to question his absence. If he doesn't get out there soon then everyone is going to know what's going on and they're going to lose faith in him, and his worst fears are going to come true.”

  “I'm sorry Ellen. I thought the same techniques I used back then would work now. Maybe I've lost something or maybe he's changed throughout the years but this repeat of the crime has made him lost. He only sees his obsession again, and I'm not sure that anything I can do will shake him out of it. I think I'll go and talk to the mother of the lost child. At least I may be able to help her,” and she left Andy's house.

  At this point Ellen knew that whatever had to be said to Andy, had to be said by her. She was the one who knew him best. She was the one who loved him, and she would be the one who would bring him back.

  Chapter 8

  Ellen chewed her lip as she looked at Andy. She walked into the room. May had pulled the curtains so the room was filled with bright sunlight and yet Andy didn't seem to care. He was hunched over the letters again, eyes darting from one to the other mumbling incoherently to himself in a manner that only he understood. Ellen tried speaking to him, tried to get through to him, but nothing worked. Even when she walked up to him and physically shook him, he looked straight through her. This most definitely wasn't the man she had fallen in love with.

  “I wish it didn't have to be this way. I wish you could have stayed strong, but if I have to be the one to bring you back then I'm going to do it. I don't know if you can hear me or not. Maybe you don't want to hear me. Maybe you don't want to hear anything, but I'm not going to walk out on you. I'm not going to leave you like this. I can't see you like this, Andy. This isn't you and we both know it. Somewhere inside you is the man I know you can be and I'm going to bring him out of you. This path you're on, it isn't going to help anyone. It certainly isn't going to help you find the kidnapper. I know you think this is the same person as all those years ago but it isn't. May must have told you, he was caught years ago. This is someone else, someone different, and the little boy, it's Scott. You know Scott. You have to pull yourself back for his sake if nothing else. History is not repeating itself here. This is a new story, and you have control over the ending.”

  Her words fell on deaf ears. Andy didn't respond to anything she said, so she was forced to leave the office and try finding something that would get through to him. Time was of the essence. Scampy knew that too as he scrambled by her feet. This had been the first true test of her and Andy's relationship. It would have been easy to walk away, to consider him a lost cause and carry on with her life. She understood why Louise had done so years before but Ellen wasn't like that. She had made few attachments throughout her life but she was loyal and dedicated to those she loved, and she did love Andy, with all of her heart. Her anguish regarding his current state only proved that to herself. She couldn't imagine her life without him and she liked to think that if the roles were reversed Andy wouldn't abandon her either. Frantically, she searched for the things she needed, and when she found them she returned to Andy and placed the stack of books on his desk.

  The entire collection of his brother's novels stood between the two of them. She began to take them off the top, one by one, and laid them out over the desk, covering the letters. The heavy hardback books were presented as one whole story. The covers were macabre and the titles elicited dread. Bombastic
statements declaring the books to be the best thrillers ever were impossible to ignore. Thus, Andy's attention was drawn away from the letters. Ellen took one and began leafing through it, reading random passages out loud.

  “What are these for?” Andy asked.

  “Oh, it speaks,” Ellen said, slamming the book shut. “I thought these would get your attention.”

  “Why have you brought them here?”

  “Andy, I love you but I really don't like the way you are now. You're being selfish and you're letting your own past prevent you from helping Scott. I know you don't want to hear that and you'd prefer to lose yourself in this mystery but we don't have that luxury. Time is ticking and there are people out there who are losing faith because we still haven't found Scott. They need you. We all do.”

  “I'm not the hero they think I am,” he said, “I'll only let them down. It's better if I work here alone, and just work through this. These letters are the key. They're what's going to save Scott.”

  “Even if that's the case then let other people help. Your judgment is clouded here and I'm calling you out on it. People need to see you. Andrea is freaking out; Kelly is doing her best to help organize the search but without you people don't believe it's possible. You've done so much for this town and we need you to do one more thing. Obviously there's a personal connection to this case but instead of you hiding away trying to figure it out by yourself you should be using every resource at your disposal. This town, we're a community. I know it's not always easy, and sometimes people here can get caught up in being annoyed, but ultimately we're all in this together. You have a whole town out there that is ready to help you and you're just sitting in here by yourself, taking it all on yourself. You don't have to do this.”

  Andy's eyes flickered and Ellen could tell she was beginning to get through to him, so she decided to press her advantage.

  “I brought these books here because you hate them. They represent a path you didn't take, a path you managed to avoid. But I'm telling you that right now you're more like that character than you are yourself. If you want to wallow in self-pity and become that character then go right ahead, but you'll be losing everything you've worked for ever since you came to East Pender, and is it really worth it? You managed to get what some people never do, a second chance. You either can steel yourself and work with us to find this guy and save Scott before it's too late, or you can lose yourself in these pages. You can prove your brother right, and you can undo everything you've achieved here.”

  Ellen's impassioned plea drained her. Scampy wasn't used to seeing her raise her voice or speak with such fervor, and he whimpered by her feet. She continued to stare at Andy, knowing that if this didn't work then probably nothing would. Her cheeks were flushed and her hair had become unkempt. Brunette wisps were now being brushed back into place. Andy sat up straight and rubbed his hands over the covers of the books. Some he opened and ran his hands along the soft surface of the paper, and a rueful smile came over his face.

  “I used to hate looking at these. I had to go to parties and signings where there would be piles of them and everyone was always so proud. They all praised my brother for writing such realistic characters and gritty plots. Not once did they ever praise me for actually living the life he was writing about. I always found that to be a strange thing...the only attention I ever got was from that case. I handled so many, solved so many. I was a good detective but nobody cared.

  Then suddenly I was everywhere. I was in the news. People saw me out in the street and at first they cheered me on. Guess they figured it was easy to catch a criminal but that guy...he was smarter than the rest. They built me up to be this hero, all of them did, even Louise. I don't think she ever truly understood what it was like to have the responsibility. It's not just a job. It's impossible to leave work at the office. I just wanted to live up to that so badly. I wanted everyone to see what I really did and save that kid but...I couldn't.

  The moment when it mattered most, I failed and, you know something? The only person I could talk to about it was my brother. Then he goes and uses our conversations to write these books, which got him millions of dollars and a movie deal. And what it did it get me? All the good work I did was forgotten and ignored. I became the one who failed. Sometimes I wonder what would have happened if I had stayed in the city. Maybe I would have turned into this guy,” he said, gesturing to the books, “but I came here instead. A new start, a new lease on life. And it was so different. Nobody knew my past. Nobody except me, but that was worse in a way, almost like it didn't matter. But I didn't deserve to forget about Sami. Sure, I got a new life but his was taken away. And no matter what happens I'll never be able to forgive myself for that.”

  He looked at Ellen with liquid eyes and inhaled deeply before he pressed his hands against the side of the desk, pushed his chair out, and stood up.

  “But you're right. I've spent so much time trying not to be that character that I can't throw it away now.”

  He looked at one of the books, the one in which the character based on him committed suicide and a haunted look came over his face. He tilted his head to one side and pursed his lips, then strode out of the door with purpose. Ellen smiled as she had finally seen a glimpse of the real Andy coming through. The fact that he was back somehow seemed to swing things in their favor. She started to believe again.

  When Andy arrived at the base of operations everyone was pleased to see him, and a little surprised.

  “I'm glad you made it,” May said.

  Andy nodded, still wearing a grave expression. This was not the time for happiness or relief. That only would come when they found Scott alive and well. There was a constant battle in his mind, and the darkness was always there, nagging him with doubts and fears. It took all his willpower to resist them, but the fact that he wanted to resist them was a victory in and of itself. He was there to do a job and the fact that Ellen was beside him reminded him he was not alone, as did the teeming mass of people who were around him. The chatter was loud, yet people still were trying, even though there had been no sign of Scott as of yet. Kelly gave him and Ellen a quick update. He nodded as he looked at the map of the forest and people rallied around him. He cleared his throat.

  “I know many of you have wondered about my absence during the past day or so. I had some things to take care of. I'm going to be honest with you. This case has many similarities to one I worked on back in the city. I got caught up in the parallels and the memories of how that one went but I assure you my focus is entirely on this one, on getting Scott back. I've met the kid. He helped us on another case. He was excitable and curious but, above all, he was brave. He embodies the spirit of this town, and somewhere out there that brave little boy is waiting for us to rescue him.

  I know we're all tired and we've all done more than anyone could have asked but I think we all know that we'd want people to stick around if it was our son, or daughter, or anyone we cared about. Not all of us were born here but East Pender is in our hearts, and we're all one family. Somebody has taken one of our own and we will not let that stand. We will find Scott and we will bring his kidnapper to justice.”

  Although he had not intended it to be a speech when he first had started talking, the crowd erupted in a cheer as he rallied them and renewed their vigor. Indeed, seeing them respond in such a manner refreshed his soul as well and he felt a stirring within his gut. People drifted away, ready to resume the search. Andrea came up to Andy.

  “My son always looked up to you, you know. I'm sure that wherever he is he has faith you'll find him, and I know you won't let him down,” she said.

  “I'll do everything I can to make sure he's safe,” Andy replied.

  The two of them walked over to Ellen and Kelly, who were poring over a map. There were pins sticking into the map and wide, shaded areas where people had searched. They had managed to cover a lot of terrain in a short amount of time yet there was more still to go.

  “We've narrowed it down to a
few areas we think are likely. Here, here, and here,” Kelly said, pointing to three distinct areas on the map.

  “It's not definite and right now we still are working mainly on hunches, but we don't really have anything else to go on. We do know there are some structures around here, places where someone could hide a child. But the thing is, even if we do get there and find the right place, we have no idea how many people there are. There could be an army.”

  “No,” Andy said, “it's just one person. I'm certain of that. This is good work; we'll start with these three places. At least then even if we don't find Scott there we can rule them out. Keep everyone looking in all directions, spreading out just in case these locations are a waste of time. I'll get some officers and gear up.”

  “I'm coming with you,” Andrea said.

  Andy glanced at Ellen, then looked back at the mother.

  “Andrea, I get why you want to come but this is dangerous. It's not easy being in these situations,” Ellen said.

  “No, she can come,” Andy said, completely going against protocol. “If we do find Scott he's going to want to see his mom. They've been kept apart long enough.”

  Andrea gave him an appreciative look. Andy, Andrea, Ellen, Scampy, and a few armed officers moved into the woods to search the various locations. The first two proved fruitless and it pained the others to see the look of disappointment on Andrea's face. However, Ellen thought, it was better to find nothing rather than Scott's dead body.

  The third location was an old abandoned woodshed. They crept quietly through the forest. Andy pulled out his gun, as he had done at the two locations before, and directed his officers to the flanks. Leaves quietly were crushed under the weight of their feet as they approached the woodshed. It was a squat building made of metal panels, which had a layer of rust upon them. The windows were dusty and nothing could be seen through them. They made their way to the door. Andy reached out for the handle and pulled it open. The hinges sang as it allowed entrance to a dark inner room. There seemed to be nobody in there. Carefully, tentatively, Andy and the others made their way in, announcing they were the police, but there was no response. A small bed was in the corner of the room, and there were cans of food, but other than that the place had been cleared out.