“Sure. You're that reporter woman doing the story on Mark Stone.”
On the name Mark Stone, she noticed his lip curling ever so slightly. “Yes. That’s me. I was wondering if you could tell me a little bit more about Deanna.”
“Like what?”
“Well, I noticed she had her wedding set on her right hand. Is she widowed?”
He nodded, a sad expression on his face. “Yes, as a matter of fact, she is.” He glanced toward his classroom door. “I don’t really have time to give you the details, but I’m sure you could find something in the papers about it.”
“Is Everett her married name?”
“Actually, I believe that’s her maiden name. I seem to recall Mark calling her Deanna Jackson one time. And I think she said her husband’s name was Martin.”
“Thank you. That will help,” Stacey said.
“I’ve got to get back to class,” he said, pointing to his classroom.
Nodding, Stacey thanked him again and walked back to her car.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Going directly home and onto the Internet, Stacey hoped since she now had the correct name, her search would be successful. After a short time she found what she wanted. The obituary showed a Martin Jackson had died by falling off of a mountain cliff. It also said the only family he left behind was his wife of less than one year, Deanna Jackson.
Stacey made a note of the date of the accident, then did a search in the newspaper for that date. Sure enough, she found an article about Martin Jackson’s death. She quickly scanned the article, then read it again more slowly. The gist of the story was Martin and Deanna Jackson had gone hiking and Martin had fallen off a very dangerous spot on the trail, directly onto some jagged rocks below. The authorities had investigated the fall and determined it to be an accident.
Apparently this wasn’t the first time someone had been killed at this particular location. The article went on to say that a fence was being installed at the spot to keep it from happening again.
The most important thing about the article to Stacey was the date it had occurred. It had been about seven months before Kyle’s abduction. Could Deanna have pushed her husband off that trail after she met Mark? Could it have been Mark’s idea to do it?
Stacey hoped this would be the evidence she needed to prove Mark had something to do with his son’s abduction. After all, if the woman Mark was having an affair with was capable of killing her own husband, what would stop her from kidnapping her lover’s child to get his wife’s money? The question was, did Mark know about Deanna’s possible involvement? Or was he the mastermind of the whole operation?
The possibilities filled her mind as she stared at the screen. As she added to her notes, she noticed the answering machine indicated a waiting message. She pressed play and listened to a whispery voice she didn’t recognize. Stacey gasped as she listened to the one sentence message: I know what you’re doing.
Her heart pounded as she thought about stopping at the school and talking with Gary. Had someone been watching her? She played the message again, her eyes closed in concentration, trying to recognize the voice. It almost sounded like someone had covered the mouthpiece with a cloth to disguise his or her voice. It could be a man or a woman. She felt tears sting the back of her eyes. It could be anyone! How am I going to clear Jason if I have to worry about someone watching my every move? She thought.
Knowing she would have no choice but to proceed normally and just watch her back more carefully, she decided to check up on Jason at the dealership. If she watched for someone following her and recognized the driver, she might find out who had left that message.
As she stepped outside and looked at all the unfamiliar faces gathered at the Stone's house, she knew the chances of her recognizing anyone following her were slim. She climbed into her car anyway and pulled out into the street, constantly glancing in her rear-view mirror as she left her neighborhood. No one seemed to be following her. She kept one eye on the road and the other on her fellow drivers.
When one car seemed to turn every time she did, she took some wrong turns just to see what would happen. After two such turns, the other car zoomed away in another direction. Pulling off to the side of the road, she mentally shook herself. She couldn't function this way, always worrying about who was around her. She determined to not let this new fear stop her search for the true kidnapper.
Pulling back out into traffic, she couldn't stop herself from looking at every driver near her. Finally, she arrived at the grocery store parking lot across the street from the car dealership where Jason worked and pulled into a spot with a good view of the car lot. There were cars all around her, which would make it difficult for anyone to spot her.
Glancing around at the unoccupied cars near her and then at the people coming in and out of the store, she only saw people who seemed to be grocery shopping. She relaxed slightly and leaned back against the headrest.
As she watched the dealership, she saw Jason come into view. He was talking with the other salesmen and kept glancing around him, as if he thought he was being watched.
Stacey looked around, too. Spotting a car down the street with a pair of men inside, she stared at them and wondered if it was possible that they were watching Jason.
Poor guy, she thought. He's being watched by the FBI on one side and by his wife on the other. But what he doesn't know certainly won't hurt him and what I don't know could hurt me. He's been up to something lately and I want to know what it is.
It must be another slow day, Stacey observed, watching the salesmen milling about. Then they all turned as a late model red car pulled onto the lot. But after seeing who was driving they all walked away as if they knew the driver wasn't interested in talking to them. Everyone except Jason.
Sitting up straight in her seat now, Stacey strained to see if it was who she thought it was. The car door opened and a long slender leg showed beneath it. Stacey felt a slow burn igniting as the blond head appeared next. The dark feeling she had been having became much stronger as she watched the scene across the street.
Jason just stood there as Patricia stepped out of her car and came toward him. Stacey couldn't see his expression but she could see him hold out his hand. Patricia took it and held it longer than necessary. Stacey thought Patricia was standing much closer to Jason than was appropriate too.
Though the sight of them strolling indoors to the office made Stacey furious, she couldn't do anything about it. She couldn't storm over there and confront them. If she did, Jason would know she had been watching him.
If he was having an affair with that woman, Stacey didn't want him to know she knew. Not yet anyway.
Doesn’t he care at all about our marriage or family? Have we grown so far apart that he feels the need to go to another woman to have his needs met? Her face grew feverish at the thought.
Maybe she's just there to buy a car, Stacey thought. Then she reflected on Mark and Amanda. She had thought their marriage was strong, but it looked like he was cheating on his wife.
Turning the key in the ignition, she gunned the engine, but controlled herself enough to leave the parking lot without drawing anyone's attention.
* * *
Late that afternoon, as Stacey was helping the children with their homework at the dining room table, Jason came home from the dealership. When he came looking for her she had to control the urge to strike out at him. Instead, for the children’s sake, she pretended to be glad to see him.
“Hi, Jason.” She gave him a cursory kiss on the cheek.
“Is that all I get?” He gave her a wounded look.
“Mom, I still need help with this,” Robby said, pointing to his assignment.
“Okay, sweetie.” Though Stacey wanted to interrogate Jason about Patricia’s visit to the dealership, she forced herself to remain calm while the children were in the room.
She bent over to get a closer look at Robby’s homework and felt Jason’s arms go around her. Revulsion squeez
ed her throat making her want to gag as she thought of him with Patricia. Shrugging her shoulder to signal him to let go, she felt his arms loosen.
Embarrassed at being rebuffed, his voice became angry. “When are we eating?”
Without looking up she said, “In a little while.” Sadness filled her heart as she listened to him leave the room.
This is all because of Patricia, she thought, her sadness turning to anger. Then she asked, why am I assuming Jason is being unfaithful? He admitted to me that Patricia had come on to him. Would he have done that if they had become lovers? He told me he loves me.
She felt unsure of herself and wondered if she was pushing Jason into Patricia's arms with the way she had been treating him lately. But she didn't really think so.
If he's having an affair with her, I'm not going to blame myself. I'll put all the blame where it belongs, on Jason and Patricia.
“I’m done, Mom,” Robby said. “Can I go play in my room now?”
“Sure, Robby,” Stacey said absently.
A little while later Nikki had completed her assignment and went to play with her dolls. Stacey took the opportunity to go into the office to think about how to approach Jason that evening. She had to talk to him about Patricia. Thinking about them together was beginning to fill her every thought.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Robby had been successful in sneaking out of the house on Monday and he knew he could do it again. His dad was busy watching television and his mom was working in the office again.
He tiptoed down the hall past Nikki's bedroom.
“Where are you going, Robby?” She yelled out.
Holding a finger to his lips, he stepped into her room. “Quiet, Nikki.”
“Why? Where are you going?” She set the doll she was playing with onto her bed.
“I just have to get something I left at the treehouse.” He glanced into the hall behind him. “Don't tell mom and dad, okay?”
“Okay,” she said cheerfully as she turned back to her beloved dolls.
Robby walked as quietly as he could to the front door. He could hear the television and hoped the sound would cover any noise he made.
As soon as he closed the door he walked quickly down the driveway, noticing all the people at Kyle's house. He looked toward his house to avoid making eye contact with anyone and hurried down the street. Once he reached the corner he took off at a run.
When he reached Mr. Gowen's orchard he stopped to catch his breath, then walked toward the old barn, his heart beating faster with each step. When he was within a hundred feet of the barn, he paused, reconsidering his decision to visit the barn. Then he thought about Kyle and determination overcame his reluctance.
Mr. Gowen's house wasn't too far beyond the barn and Robby didn't want to be caught sneaking around. He dashed from tree to tree, staying hidden until he was about ten feet from the old building.
Slowly glancing around, he felt like a spy in one of the pretend games he and Kyle liked to play. Taking a deep breath, he raced across the open space and reached the large doors.
He put his ear to the wooden entrance and listened intently for any noise inside. Hearing nothing, he pushed on the door. It wouldn't move. He pushed harder. It still wouldn't budge.
That's strange, he thought. The day Mr. Gowen invited us into the barn, it had been unlocked.
Robby wandered around the side of the large building, looking for another way to get in. Way up high, above the roofline, was a window. He studied the small opening trying to figure out a way to get in.
If I could somehow get onto that roof ledge, I could climb through the window, he thought.
He backed away into the orchard to get a look from a different angle. It was then he noticed a tree branch hanging down, just touching the roof. The thought of climbing that tree, clambering out onto the branch and dropping onto the roof made him shudder.
Maybe I should just forget the whole thing, he thought. There's probably nothing to find anyway.
Then he thought he heard a noise. A crying noise. He listened raptly. There! He had heard a noise. It spurred him on.
Running to the base of the large oak tree, he stared up at its branches. It was enormous. Much larger than it had looked from a distance. He spit into his palms and rubbed them together.
Taking a deep breath, he jumped as high as he could, grabbing the lowest branch. His shoes dug into the bark, biting into the rough surface. He scrambled up the trunk, using branches as handholds.
When he was level with the roof he glanced at the ground and gasped. He didn't like being so high. His heart beat so fast he thought it might explode. Wrapping his arms and legs around the huge branch, he squeezed his eyes shut, trying to gather his courage.
Slowly, he worked his way toward the barn roof. Once he reached the end of the branch, he was shocked to find it barely touched the roof. His courage faded and he almost turned back.
The sound of whimpering reached his ears again and he buried his fear. Without allowing himself to look at the ground far beneath him, he held onto the end of the branch and slowly turned his body so his back was to the roof. Clinging tightly to the branch, he carefully stretched his leg out until his toe touched the roof. He wiggled it out further until he could put weight on it.
Feeling more confident, he unhooked his other leg from the safe haven of the tree and reached it out until both feet were securely on the surface.
Still holding onto the branch with both hands, his back to the barn, he squatted down, bending the tip of the branch until it would bend no more. He reluctantly let go of his only safety.
Once freed from its captive grip, the branch snapped back into place and Robby fell backward against the roof. He let out a little cry of fear and dug his nails into the surface. He was ecstatic when he realized he hadn't slipped.
Trying to get his heart rate to return to normal, he stayed still for several minutes. Then, flipping over and lying flat on his belly, he slithered to the window he had seen from the ground. Thrilled to find it was bigger than it had looked from the earth, he was even happier to find nothing covering it.
Gripping the edge with his hands, he peered into the darkness. He blinked several times, forcing his eyes to adjust to the dim interior. A loft was on the other side of the window and he slipped easily into the barn. He took a step and froze when the floorboard creaked. Nothing moved so he continued forward.
A moment later he reached the ladder and made his way down. The inside looked the way he had remembered it and he headed directly for the door that had brought him there. Wrapping his fingers around the doorknob, he felt suddenly frightened of what he might find on the other side.
The whimpering sound was louder now and he gathered his nerve to find out the source. He turned the knob sharply and was elated when the door swung open.
The bright room blinded him after the darkness of the previous area. He covered his face, tears springing to his eyes. Wiping his sleeve across his face to dry the moisture, he felt something rub against his leg and he jumped back, startled.
Looking down, he was delighted to see several brown and white puppies roaming about the straw on the ground. He wondered where their mama was and understood they were the ones whimpering, probably from hunger.
“Hi guys,” he said enthusiastically, crouching down to rub their tiny tummies. “I'll bet you're hungry, huh? Your mama will probably be back real soon.” At least he hoped she would.
Standing back up, he looked around the small space. There wasn't much there and he wondered what he'd expected to find. He bent to pet the puppies one last time before turning to depart for home.
He didn't want to leave the same way he had come and walked to the broad doors that led to the outside. He was dismayed to find them chained and locked.
Resigned to climbing back onto the roof and down the tree, he turned and headed back up the ladder.
Wait a minute, he thought. How could Mr. Gowen get in if it's locked from the insid
e?
He jumped back down onto the main floor and rushed around the cavernous room, looking for another way out. Tucked back in the corner was a door he hadn't noticed before. It was locked too. But as he turned the knob, the button popped out and he easily opened the door to the outside. He made sure to press the button that would lock it so Mr. Gowen wouldn't know someone had been inside.
Pleased with the success of his mission, Robby wasn't paying attention as he turned the corner of the barn. He walked right into Fred Gowen.
They both let out a yelp of surprise at the unexpected encounter.
“Robby! What are you doin' here?” Gowen didn't sound too happy to find a young boy traipsing around his property.
“Oh, hi, Mr. Gowen,” Robby stammered.
“You didn't answer me, boy. What're you doin' here?”
Robby glanced behind him, toward the way he had come. “I don't know. I was just walking around.”
Gowen looked past Robby in the direction of the door Robby had just come through. “You stay right here, boy.”
Robby was rooted to the spot. He watched as Gowen walked to the door Robby had recently used, tried the knob and smiled to himself with satisfaction.
Robby was extremely thankful he had thought to lock the door.
Gowen returned to where Robby was standing and shook his finger in his direction. “I don't want you pokin' around my property. Is that clear?”
Nodding meekly, Robby had to blink back tears.
Noticing his distress, Gowen allowed a smile to grace his face. “You know you can use that treehouse anytime you want, but my barn is off-limits.”
“Yes, sir,” Robby said softly.
“Now go on home. You don't want your folks to worry.”
Robby turned and ran.
Chapter Twenty-Four
At dinner that evening Nikki chatted happily while Jason and Stacey were silent. Jason had tried to make conversation with Stacey but after she had responded with several “uh-huh's,” he had given up. Noticing Robby was quieter than normal, Stacey hoped the marital tension wasn't the cause.
Suspicions: a novel of suspense Page 13
