Girl in Trouble (An Alex Mercer Thriller Book 1)

by Stacy Claflin

  "And there are thirty of these cases?"

  "Roughly, yes."

  "Show me more."

  Relief washed through Nick. He finally had her attention. If they had the FBI's support and resources, they stood a chance at actually finding the creep—and Ariana—before she ended up at the bottom of a lake. Next he went through each case, showing the pictures of each girl, their location, and how long they'd been taken before their untimely end on Halloween.

  Once he was done, Williams leaned back in the chair and stared at the ceiling. "Unbelievable."

  Nick arched a brow.

  "I can't believe he has gone undetected all this time. How is that possible?"

  She actually believed him? He nearly dropped the pen in his hand. "He's careful, and he's moved around. Also, not all of the bodies were found right away, making it harder for the local authorities to make the connection."

  Williams looked deep in thought. "We need to figure out where he keeps the girls and what goes on while he has them."

  "That's a good question. There has never been any sign of sexual trauma. It must be all about the kill. I'd like to run a search to see if Myer was near any of the other locations at the time."

  "It's worth looking into. This guy needs to be stopped before he can kill again." Williams grabbed her food. "Email everything to me. I need to go over this and send some agents to look into the older cases. There has to be a clue to who this man is within all of those cases. He's been careful, but everyone slips up somewhere. We're going to find that out."

  "What can I do?" Nick asked.

  "Debrief the team. Get as many people as you can to come to the meeting. I need to call into headquarters and get more agents involved. We need them in each of the other three states. We don't have much time to save that little girl."

  "Yes, we do." And they would've had more if she hadn't been so stubborn.

  "We also have to figure out how to handle the media—if at all. Do we want the perpetrator knowing we're onto him?"

  "It might push him to let her go. He obviously doesn't want to get caught. Otherwise, he wouldn't move around so much."

  "He might also overreact and kill her early. We can't risk that."

  Nick shook his head. "He won't."

  "You don't think so?"

  "There's something special about Halloween. Maybe it's some kind of ritual sacrifice. I have no idea. But it's always done the night of Halloween."

  "We'll worry about the media later. First, I need to find out what I can about all these other cases—and time isn't on our side."

  Williams hurried out of the office. Nick sent a group text to everyone on the team. He gave them an hour to get to the conference room they'd set up for the case. Nick had to prepare a presentation to get the information to the officers as quickly as possible.

  Renewed energy raced through him. Finally, they were on the right track and had the FBI's resources at their disposal. Maybe they could stop the murderer and put him away before he could kill Ariana or any other little girl ever again.

  Reminisce

  Zoey swallowed the Tylenol with a swig of black coffee. She'd woken with a splitting headache, and that was after hardly sleeping. Her mind wouldn't shut up. She couldn't stop worrying about Ari, and the more she thought about her argument with Kellen, the angrier she grew.

  How dare he throw all that stuff at her, now of all times? And the kid card—what a bunch of crap. She didn't use Ariana to get her own way. Her daughter was important, and if he couldn't grasp that, maybe he was right about breaking off the engagement. As embarrassing as it would be to tell everyone they had split, everyone would be on her side. She couldn't marry someone who didn't support her as a mom.

  She glanced at the calendar next to the fridge. Ariana's smiling face greeted her—a picture from last year's Halloween party. Zoey's heart ached as she stared at it until she couldn't take it any longer. She glanced down. How could it already be Tuesday? Tonight would make it twice as long as the critical forty-eight-hour time period.

  Zoey leaned against the wall and slid to sitting, resting her head on her knees. Why couldn't they find her? Or at least a decent lead? Kellen may be a jerk—a first class one, even—but he was no kidnapper. She couldn't figure out why the FBI was so interested in him. They were wasting valuable time.

  Her phone rang. She didn't want to get up, but it might be news about Ariana.

  Zoey pulled herself up and found the phone on the counter. It was her mom.

  Heart thundering, she answered. "What is it?"

  "Did you hear about Macy?"

  "Macy? You mean Ariana?"

  "No, Macy. She was in an accident."

  The room spun around Zoey. She held onto the counter. "Is she okay?"

  "She's in the hospital. Sounds like she might be there a while."

  "I better get down there. There's no news on Ari?"

  "Not that anyone's told me. Are they still questioning Kellen?"

  "They released him, and his lawyer told them not to call him in unless they have real evidence against him."

  "That's good. You guys visit Macy. I'll let you know if I hear anything."

  "I'll visit her. Kellen and I broke up."

  "What?"

  "It's a long story, and I don't feel like talking about it now. I'll tell you about it later." Zoey ended the call before Mom could object, then got into the shower.

  Could things get any worse? Zoey knew better than to think that, but really, it didn't seem like they could. Not unless Ariana—no. That was one thought she wouldn't allow herself to think.

  She got ready as quickly as she could and headed over to the hospital, her mind swimming. Once inside, she found her way to the waiting room for the critical care unit. She shuddered, thinking of how bad a shape her childhood best friend must be in to be there.

  Chad slept in a chair. She didn't see any of Macy's other family. They were probably in the room with Macy.

  She sat next to Macy's dad. "How is she?"

  Chad opened an eye and then sat up, rubbing both eyes. "Hi, Zo. She's still intubated, on a ventilator, and sedated. Alyssa's in there now. Luke just went home to get some sleep."

  Dread washed through Zoey. "She's going to be okay, though. Right?"

  He nodded. "We're thinking positive."

  "What about Alex?" Zoey asked, though she suspected he was suffering a hangover.

  "Grabbing some more coffee. That kid can run off fumes longer than anyone I know. I'm not sure he's slept a wink."

  "Can I see Macy?"

  "You'll have to wait until Alyssa comes out. They're only allowing one visitor at a time. The room's really small, and it's crowded with equipment."

  Zoey nodded. "There's nothing new on Ari."

  "I hope today's the day we get some good news."

  "We definitely need it."

  Alex walked over, carrying a coffee in each hand. "I didn't know you were coming. I'd have grabbed you one."

  "It's fine. I had some earlier."

  Chad rose and stretched. "You can have mine. Once Alyssa comes out, we're going home for some shut-eye." He walked over to the nurses' station.

  Alex handed her a cup.

  She shook her head.

  "It's not poisoned. I bought it for my dad—not that I'd do anything to your drink."

  "Thanks." She took it and sipped the hot, minty drink. "You still like flavored mochas."

  He nodded and drank from his.

  "Have you seen Macy?"

  "Yeah. I didn't know one person could have so many casts."

  Zoey grimaced. "That bad?"

  He nodded, his expression darkening.

  She frowned and took another drink. They slipped into a comfortable silence—it had been so long since they'd been able to be in a room together without arguing.

  Zoey watched him from the corner of her eye. He drank from his mocha, appearing deep in thought. She almost felt sorry for him—or maybe it was the younger version of h
im that she pitied. That guy didn't deserve any of this. Not after all he'd been through.

  She did miss that Alex. It was too bad that he'd changed so much. He'd really had so much potential once.

  Allies

  Alex wondered how long Zoey would watch him. He pretended not to notice, but it was growing increasingly difficult. On one hand, it was nice that she wasn't harping on him, but at the same time, he couldn't help but wonder if she was up to something.

  Finally, he turned to her. "You want me to have my mom come out so you can see Macy?"

  She shrugged. "It's okay. I don't mind waiting."

  "Where's Kellen?"

  Zoey stiffened. "He, uh, he's at home resting. The FBI's been giving him a hard time."

  Alex clenched his jaw. "Don't get me started on them. I saw the kidnapper, but nobody will listen to me. They could just go to his house and arrest him—find Ariana—but no. They won't."

  "You really think it was that nerd from the computer company?"

  "I saw him."

  "That guy doesn't seem like he could take down a puppy."

  Alex held her gaze. "He has our daughter."

  "Okay. Are they watching him? Nobody's told me anything about him."

  "That's because nobody's watching him, or even thinking about him."

  She played with a piece of fuzz on her jacket, looking deep in thought. "Maybe we need to take things into our own hands."

  Alex chewed on his lower lip. Should he tell her what Nick had found? What if she turned around and somehow used it against him? They were hardly friends. Although, they both wanted the same thing—to bring Ariana back home safe and sound.

  Maybe he could just tell her about the cold cases, but not bring Nick into it. What if he got in trouble somehow? The cops probably weren't supposed to talk about the cases with those who were involved.

  "What are you thinking about?" Zoey asked.

  "I kind of already have taken things into my own hands."

  She arched a brow. "You mean by hitting that nerd?" The corners of her mouth twitched, reminding him of the old Zoey. The one he could tell anything to and talk to for hours on end about everything and nothing at the same time.

  "No." He shook his head and quickly debated with himself about telling her. "I've been looking into some similar cold cases."

  Zoey leaned closer. "How similar?"

  "Girls that look like Ari abducted before Halloween."

  Her mouth dropped. "No way. How many?"

  "Maybe thirty."

  Zoey's face paled. "They're cold cases, so they haven't been solved?"

  Alex shook his head. "Not one of them. They've happened all over the Northwest, so he probably moves when someone gets too close."

  "So the girls, they…?"

  He nodded. "Died. On Halloween."

  Zoey cried out. "That's her favorite holiday! And it's almost here. What are we going to do? You have to tell someone! You have, haven't you? We only have until Halloween? Are you sure?"

  "Someone on the force is looking into it. Hopefully, the FBI will give this more credence than they have to Flynn."

  "You really think that dork is capable of pulling off such an elaborate scheme?"

  "I think he's the perfect type, actually. Think about it. Dude lives by himself, is the model guy at work, and nobody has a bad thing to say about him. Probably has severe mommy issues. He's living the perfect, docile existence. Who would suspect him? Clearly no one. Doesn't that fit almost every serial killer you've heard of?"

  She stared at him. "You're right. How are we going to get Ariana away from him?"

  "Hopefully, the FBI will be able to figure out it's him."

  "What if they don't? What are we going to do?"

  "I'll break into his house if I have to," Alex said. "Break everything in the house to find his hidden trap door."

  "You think he has a secret room?" Her brows came together.

  "How else would he hide the girls? The cops were over there, questioning him, and he didn't break a sweat. He knows what he's doing—he's been at it long enough."

  Zoey leaned back. "That sounds… I don't know. A little far-fetched, don't you think? This isn't a movie."

  "Real life is stranger than fiction. We both know that."

  She didn't look convinced.

  "Do you have any better ideas? If you do, I'd love to hear them."

  "I wish. What can we do, though? I mean, really. It's not like we can break into his place."

  "Why not? If he has Ariana, wouldn't it be worth it? I don't care if I go to jail if it means she'll be safe. Halloween's going to be here before we know it."

  She wrapped her hair around a finger, making the skin turn white. "Can you show me what you've got? I'd like to see it myself."

  "Yeah, of course." Alex reached for his laptop case, but realized he didn't bring it. "I don't have my laptop, but I can show you some of the stuff online." He pulled out his phone and went to the browser app. "Here, look."

  Zoey took the phone and read the article. She turned to Alex. "That girl looks exactly like Ariana."

  "Jerk has a type. Here, I'll show you another."

  They spent the next ten minutes going over different cold cases until Alex's mom came out into the waiting room. "Oh, Zoey, I didn't know you were here."

  Zoey turned to Alex. "Let me know as soon as you hear anything about those cases."

  He nodded. "Okay."

  Alex found his earlier texting conversation with Nick and continued it.

  What did they say?

  We found something. Come to the station.

  Progress

  It took all of Alex's self-control not to speed through town. How ironic would it be to get pulled over while driving to the station? Finally, he made it. He squealed into a spot and ran straight for Nick's office without stopping at the front desk.

  The door was open, so Alex just went in. "What's going on?"

  Nick looked up and waved him in. "Close the door."

  "What'd you find?" Alex closed the door and sat down. "Did the FBI agree to help? You never let me know."

  "Oh, that's right. I forgot after she said yes."

  "She did?"

  "Yeah, we've been on it, and everyone agrees it's the same guy."

  "Of course it is. Are you closer to finding Ariana?" Alex asked.

  "We should be. New details are popping up from the older cases—everyone involved is more than happy to help—finally."

  Alex felt hopeful for the first time since Ariana had been shoved in the van. "You said you found something?"

  Nick nodded. "Five years before the first missing girl, there was a similar case in Montana. Only this one was a little different."

  "What do you mean?"

  "The death was ruled accidental. A girl who looked just like all the others who'd died in a lake on Halloween. She was with a group of older kids, and due to them being minors, the records are sealed."

  "I don't get it," Alex said. "What does that have to do with anything? She wasn't kidnapped and it was an accident?"

  "Right. I can't get Williams to look at it because of that, but something about that case is screaming for my attention."

  Alex leaned forward, trying to see where Nick was going with it. "It was like five years before the kidnappings started?"

  He nodded. "But the girl looked just like Ariana and she died in a lake on Halloween."

  "I'm trying to connect the dots. You gotta help me out."

  Nick took a deep breath. "I admit it might be a long shot, but I think it's at least possible that these kidnappings are modeling that death."

  Alex's mind spun. "You think Flynn is recreating that girl's death from like thirty-five years ago?"

  "I think someone might be. Look at the picture of this girl." Nick spun his laptop around and showed Alex a scanned image of an old newspaper clipping. He could barely read the words, but the girl did look eerily like Ariana and the others.

  "Why would he try to
recreate an accidental drowning year after year?"

  "Don't try to make sense of crazy. It'll send you down the same path."

  "What if it wasn't an accident? Someone could be covering up for one of those teens. That has to be it!"

  "Stay out of the killer's head. Let us do our job."

  "Just as long as you guys catch the guy before Ariana gets hurt." Alex clenched his fists. "I don't suppose Flynn has anything to do with the case?"

  "I don't know who the involved kids were. The only articles I can find are vague, and like I said, the police records are sealed. There also isn't an obituary that I can find matching the case."

  "Seriously?" Alex exclaimed.

  Nick nodded.

  "Can't you get a court order?"

  "We'd need enough to convince a judge to open them."

  "A missing girl who is close to being killed isn't enough?"

  "Not until we find a strong enough piece of evidence linking the cases."

  Alex hit the chair.

  "But with the FBI on this, that could happen." Nick leaned back and rubbed his temples. "At least we're on the right track finally. So, how's Macy?"

  The question jolted Alex. "She's in pretty bad shape, but they say she'll be okay. That she's lucky. Lucky would be not being in the hospital. Not having her car totaled."

  "Given the accident she endured, I'd have to agree that she's—"

  "It wasn't an accident!"

  "Given the threats, I'd have to agree. That reminds me, did you bring the note he left?"

  Alex dug into a coat pocket and then another one until he finally found the little, yellow scrap of paper. "At this point, you'll probably only find my prints."

  Nick nodded and held out a little plastic bag. "Put it in here."

  Alex did and leaned back. "I'm sure I'll get another real soon."

  "Let me know as soon as you do." He zipped the bag and read the note.

  "Will do. What do you think?"

  "I think you're too close. He's scared."