“You…you handled Brody very well back there. I’m sorry. You were right about being able to handle yourself. I shouldn’t have interfered in your job.” He said with absolute sincerity. She watched him as he drove. God he was beautiful. The contours of his face were perfect and his mouth and lips were kissable. His strong hands gripped the steering wheel with authority and the muscles in his thigh bulged every time he depressed the breaks on the car. He turned to catch her staring.
“What? I said I’m sorry Ellie. Please don’t be mad at me.” He stated looking bereft. She giggled.
“I know and I accept your apology.” She said still smiling at him. He looked at her curiously.
“What? Do I have like a booger hanging out or something?” He asked playing with his nose. She laughed.
“No, and even if you did, it would probably be hot too?” She said shaking her head. He smiled at her.
“You think I’m hot?” He said shyly. She nodded.
“Mhmm. You were hot in school but now…” She smiled at him and he was blushing. They pulled into the driveway of the church and Ellie’s humor died. She started to get a sick feeling in her stomach and she thought maybe she just might pass out. She felt a hand on her shoulder.
“Hey, you don’t have to do this. You can just stay in the car.” He said softly. She took a breath and tried to collect her feelings.
“No. I need to do this. I’m not a child anymore and If he has anything to do with this…” Ellie couldn’t finish her sentence. She kept thinking about the vision of her on the bike and the church and seeing that woman in her father’s office and then again in the grave, then again in her last vision out at the mass grave crime scene. What did all of that have to do with her father? Cade got out and waited for her in front of the car.
She joined him and they walked towards the church. She took a deep breath as they entered through the glass doors. Just inside the foyer, a bench sat on either side of the doors for guests and parishioners. A podium with a guest book and pen sat to the left and a statue of Jesus sat on the right. Fake plants and flowers were in every corner and the smell of the church reminded her of the Sunday’s she spent listening to her father talk about forgiveness and love from the pulpit, only to have him beat the shit out of her later on in the day.
To the right was the parish, in front of them were stairs leading down to a banquet hall and to the left were Sunday school rooms and offices. She heard someone talking on the phone and fear sliced through her. It was her father. She would know that voice anywhere.
“No, no that’s fine. Feel free to drop off any donation you like. Oh, we appreciate anything you can provide. Yes, we are always looking for volunteers. Oh, thank you so much. God Bless you.” Her father must have hung up on whomever he had been schmoozing with on the phone. Ellie rolled her eyes. She and Cade moved towards the open office and Cade led the way.
“Reverend Ridley. May I have a word with you sir?” Cade said politely. Her father hadn’t seen her yet, so he smiled widely at Cade and stuck out his hand.
“Sheriff Cade Masterson. How are you son? It’s been a long time since I’ve seen you. Did a stint in the army if I’m not mistaken? How is your father?” He said just pouring out the bullshit. Ellie finally stepped around Cade and her father froze.
“Reverend.” Ellie said trying to sound professional and brave. He is a possible suspect, nothing more. This was the office, that desk he was standing behind was the same desk she had seen in her vision. She had to stay focused. Her father’s face drained of all its blood and left him looking pale and old.
“Elinora?” He said barely audible. She cringed at the name. Cade stepped up.
“It’s actually Doctor Ridley now sir. She’s a doctor. She works for the FBI and she is here to help with a case.” Cade stated. She knew he was trying to help but Ellie could feel herself shaking. She felt Cade touch her hand with his and suddenly she was calm. His energy seeped into her mind and body and she could feel a calmness take over. She took a breath.
“We need to ask you a few questions.” Ellie stated. Her father hadn’t stopped looking at her and it was making her nervous.
“Where have you been? Your mother…” Her father said. Ellie felt sick.
“What about mom, is she ok?” Her father shook his head.
“She, well I had to put her in an institution. She had a mental break down after you left. Allison never returned, Alex was gone and you…” Her father said. Ellie felt anger boiling up inside.
“You kicked me out. I didn’t leave on my own. Where is she?” Ellie said trying to remain calm.
Her father stared at her.
“She’s in a good place.” He said in that voice that she remembered so well meaning he wasn’t going to tell her and it wasn’t any of her business. Cade stepped forward.
“Sir, I would like to ask you some questions about the night Allison and Ellie disappeared.” Cade said. Ellie snapped her head his direction but his eyes were completely focused on her father. She looked back towards her father who had a flash of something in his eyes but then quickly masked it.
“I don’t know what else I can tell you. Allison disappeared, not Elinora. Annawaon Beartree killed her and hid her body. It was never found.” Reverend Ridley stated. Ellie stiffened but Cade touched her hand.
“Sir, I know for a fact that Ellie was taken but she was smart enough to get away. What led you to believe that Annawon Beartree kidnapped and killed your daughter?” Cade asked. Her father looked towards Ellie.
“Elinora was the one who told us that Allison was sleeping with Beartree. We knew this wasn’t true because Allison was a good girl. She would never have done something as sinful as have relations with that boy without being married. We knew he had to have done something to her to get her to go with him and then she never…” Her father put a fist to his mouth as if he was holding back tears but Ellie rolled her eyes.
“Allison WAS sleeping with Beartree but I should have never told you that. That was their secret to keep and I probably AM responsible for getting him convicted because I was so angry with you for not believing me that night. What evidence did you have against him?” Ellie asked trying to remain calm and do her job. Her father wouldn’t look at her.
“I don’t have to answer any of your questions Elinora.” Her father said with disdain. Cade stepped forward again standing directly in front of her father.
“It’s Nora sir, and you do have to answer MY questions. What evidence did you have against Beartree?” Cade said more forcefully. Her father glared at her but then looked towards Cade.
“The Sheriff’s Department ran by your father found Beartree’s DNA all over Allison’s room, fingerprints on her window sill and on the bedframe. There was…” He father closed his eyes dramatically and then opened them again. “Pubic hair in the bed and more DNA. That’s all the proof that was needed.” Her father said turning a sour glare towards Ellie.
“That doesn’t prove he killed her Reverend; it just proves he was sleeping with her.” Ellie said. Her father’s eyes flared and he shifted to move from around the desk but Cade blocked his way.
“No sir, I let you get away with touching her once. I was a child then; I won’t let that happen again.” Cade said with a growl. Her father looked between the both of them and then sat down in his chair.
“Is there anything else Sheriff? Doesn’t the Sheriff’s department have all of the evidence logged?” Her father said with arrogance.
“Yes sir, however there is a lot of information missing. You see, we discovered a mass grave out on County road H and it is full of young girls. If your daughter is identified as one of those girls then Annawon Beartree could be innocent.” Cade stated, not telling the entire truth but using half- truth to try and get her father to talk. Ellie felt her father’s fear. She narrowed her eyes at him and he tried to mask his feelings but he couldn’t. He knew something, she tried to stretch her mind deeper but suddenly she was shut out and she felt a massi
ve headache emerge. She felt nauseous and dizzy and she felt a warm arm around her. She looked up into Cade’s worried face.
“Ellie, what’s wrong?” He said but she could barely hear him. She looked to her father who was staring her down and fear snaked through her. Another blinding pain stabbed her head and she felt weak. She heard Cade tell her father that he would be back for more questions and then suddenly he was lifting her into his arms. As soon as the cool breeze hit her face, she could feel herself coming out of whatever it was that had hit her so hard. Cade was putting her in the car and handing her a bottle of water. She closed her eyes and when she opened them again her headache had started subsiding and Cade was staring at her with concern.
“What the hell happened in there?” Cade asked. Ellie wasn’t sure. She had never had that happen to her before with anyone. She had dealt with serial killers, stalkers, rapists and not once did she get a mind block like she had with her father.
“I…I don’t know. He…he knows something. As soon as you told him about the mass graves and mentioned my sister, I could feel him shift, he was nervous and suspicious but then suddenly…I couldn’t see anything and it was like he shut me out of his mind. I can’t explain it.” Ellie said closing her eyes. She sat back in the passenger seat and took a deep breath.
“Does your father have the visions you have?” Cade asked. Ellie opened her eyes and looked at him.
“No, only the women in our family get it. It is from his side but no men ever have ever had it. Or at least that’s what my gran and my aunt always told me.” Ellie said but now that Cade had mentioned it, she wondered if that was why her father hated her so much. He was a pastor, if anyone knew or thought that he had visions, people might shun him and he would have no power over anyone.
“What do you think he knows?” Cade asked making her take another sip of water.
“I don’t know, it had to do with my sister though and identifying the women in the grave. I think we should go talk to Annawon” Ellie said. Cade was watching her.
“Are you sure you are up to it? You kind of freaked me out in there.” Cade said looking at her with concern.
“I’m sure. I feel better now; I just never liked this place.” She said looking back towards the church. Cade was silent for a moment.
“I believe in God.” He said. She stared at him.
“I believe in God too; I just don’t believe in this church or it’s pastor. He…he has a good face Cade. He makes everyone love him, meanwhile he beat his daughter until she couldn’t stand after every sermon. What kind of pastor does that? What kind of man of God treats his daughter that way?’ Ellie said sadly. Cade touched her cheek.
“I’m sorry honey. You didn’t deserve that; I wish I had known then.” Cade said with anger in his eyes. She touched his cheek back.
“You couldn’t have stopped him. Let’s get out of here.” Ellie said. She wanted to tell Cade about the red headed woman but she still didn’t understand it after all of this time. He watched her a few more moments and then nodded. She didn’t know what her father knew about this case, but she knew for sure next time she would be ready, next time, he would not shut her out.
Chapter 9
Cade drove his SUV down state route 47 towards McNaughton Correctional Facility near Tomahawk. Ellie was sitting in the passenger seat looking out the window silently and Cade was extremely worried about her. She looked pale after the visit with her father and the reaction she’d had in his office. He felt like there were things she was keeping from him and he had a feeling it was important to the case.
“Are you ok?” Cade asked. Ellie took a deep breath then turned to look at him. She smiled sweetly.
“I’m fine. My father always did have a way to make me feel like the worst person on the planet. I thought I had gotten past it.” She took another breath and looked back out the passenger window. “I guess not.” They drove in silence again.
“Ellie, tell me about your father. What did he do to you?” Cade said hoping she would share with him. She turned to look at him and a tear slid down her cheek.
“He…we never got along. He adored Allison. It was always Allison this and Allison that. I remember when I was about 4 sitting at the dinner table. Allison reached in front of me to get the ketchup and knocked over my milk. My father thought it was me and when I said it wasn’t, he hit me across the face for lying. My sister tried to tell him it was her but he said not to cover for me. He took me in the shed, pulled my pants down and beat me until I peed myself and then beat me more for not being able to control my bladder.” Ellie was shaking and tears were now rolling down her cheeks.
“I’m sorry. You don’t have to tell me anymore.” Cade said taking her hand. She closed her eyes and continued.
“It was like that all the time. I got so used to it, I didn’t even cry anymore. The harder he hit me the more I became numb to it. I’m not saying it didn’t hurt but I did everything in my power to leave my body to resist the pain. He stood in the pulpit and talked about love and forgiveness and understanding. He counseled families and couples and did things for the homeless. Meanwhile at home he was abusing me.” Cade felt anger boiling up inside of him and at the moment he had to control his thoughts. He wanted nothing more than to beat the shit out of Pastor Ridley.
“What about your mom? I remember that night she seemed like he was controlling her.” Cade asked. Ellie shook her head.
“Oh, he never laid a hand on her because she was the pastor’s wife. He used emotional and mental abuse on her. He had her so convinced that what he was doing was for my own good and he needed to beat the evil out of me. I used to hear her crying in her room when my father wasn’t home and one time when I was about 12, I tried to go in and talk to her but the minute I walked into the room, she flipped out about my father catching me in their room. That night when he got home was the worst beating of my life.” Cade shook his head and his hands were squeezing the steering wheel.
“She told him?” Cade said angrily. Ellie shook her head.
“I didn’t go to school for about a week because he left bruises on my back and legs from whipping me with the belt. I was locked in my room and only got bread and water. After that, I did my best to stay away and kept to myself.” Ellie said with sadness. Cade remembered that was when Ellie cut everyone off at school. She had become withdrawn and people started talking about how weird she had become. There was even a rumor that the good Pastor was sexually molesting his daughters.
“Ellie did your dad…?” Cade didn’t finish. Ellie shook her head.
“No, thank God. I probably would have killed myself honestly. I heard the rumors at school. Why do you think I just kept to myself?” Ellie stated. “after he kicked me out, I went to live with my Grandmother and then my Aunt in Seattle. I was happy and she helped me with my visions. I regret what I did to you though. I shouldn’t have left without saying good bye.” Ellie said looking at him sadly. He pulled into a parking space in the lot next to the prison and turned off the car. Cade turned to her and placed a hand on her cheek.
“I’m sorry that you went through that. I understand why you left the way you did but you should know, there hasn’t been a day that has gone by, that I haven’t thought about you.” He maintained eye contact with her and a tear slide down her cheek. He ran a thumb over her bottom lip and then without thinking leaned in and kissed her. He felt her stiffen and just as he was about to pull back, she sighed and threw her arms around his neck. He pulled her closer and ran his hands through her hair. He moved his lips over hers and then felt her soft tongue dart out. Cade wanted to pull her onto his lap and have his way with her but they were in the prison parking lot and this was not where he wanted to be the first time he took Ellie to bed. Finally, he pulled back and looked down at Ellie whose cheeks were flushed and lips were swollen from their kisses.
“Wow.” Ellie said softly still holding on to Cade’s neck. He chuckled.
“Yeah wow. I’m not taking you in the ca
r like a damn teenager. If we do something about this, it won’t be in my work car.” Cade said kissing her softly again. She pulled back and started getting out without saying a word. He stayed her with his hand. “Hey.” She looked at him sadly.
“Cade.” She started to say. He shook his head.
“Not now, we will talk about it later.” Cade said. She started to speak but he put his fingers to her lips. She nodded and got out.
They made their way to the front doors of the prison. Just inside the door was an x-ray machine and a guard. They put their cell phones and keys in a bucket and Cade handed the guard his service weapon to put in lock up. The guards used the wands to make sure neither of them was carrying anything illegal then waved them through. The guard led them to a conference room and they were told to take a seat. Ellie finally spoke.
“What do you think Beartree will be able to tell us?” She asked. Cade shook his head.
“I’m not sure but I know there is information missing from the investigation and I just want to hear what he has to say about the case.” Cade said. He knew his father would not be happy if he knew he was going behind his back looking at the investigation but he felt like maybe his father had let the community and others railroad him into making an arrest.
“Cade, I…” Ellie started to say but stopped as the side door opened and a guard walked through with a man wearing an orange jump suit. His long black hair was pulled back into a ponytail with a hair tie and he was sporting a black eye. The guard sat him down in the chair across from Cade and Ellie and then handcuffed him to the table and stepped back crossing his arms over his chest. Cade looked up at the guard.
“You can go.” Cade stated. The guard glared at him and then looked at Ellie. “She’s fine with me, step out.” Cade said with more authority. Finally, the guard dropped his arms and left the room with a glare. Cade watched Beartree look from him then to Ellie. When his eyes landed on Ellie, he saw Beartree’s demeanor change.
Visions Of The Past Page 7
