Visions Of The Past

by Elizabeth Mahood

  “Do you know Blain Rogers?” Ellie asked. Bruce nodded.

  “Yeah he started working here just out of high school and been working here ever since. He doesn’t have the drive I had back then. He’s perfectly happy to just work the rocks and deliver. Did Hank a favor hiring that boy. Can’t say he’s been a stellar worker but he shows up on time, does his job and never had any complaints about his work. Why?” Bruce finished looking skeptical. Cade looked at Ellie and then back to Bruce.

  “Sir, we have identified him in a homicide we are investigating.” Cade stated. Cade watched Bruce pale and he didn’t have to have Ellie’s visions or intuition to feel the shift in the energy in the room.

  “What…I can’t believe it. Have you told Hank?” Bruce asked, seeming to take the news rather hard.

  “When was the last time you saw him?” Cade asked. Bruce looked to Ellie and then back to Cade.

  “I, I think his last work day was Friday. I didn’t talk to him, just saw him moving rock and when he signed out from his shift. What happened?” Bruce asked on whispered breath.

  “He was murdered. We found him out on County Road M with his face bashed in with bricks that came from this query.” Cade stated. He wanted to see Bruce’s reaction to what he had just said.

  “What?” Bruce said, eye’s furrowing. “So, you think someone took brick from my query and killed that boy?” Cade nodded.

  “Not only that, but bricks from here ended up thrown through Nora’s windows.” Cade stated. He didn’t want to tip his hand too much but something didn’t feel right at the query and he needed some answers.

  “We deliver brick and rocks all over the county.” Bruce stated starting to sound defensive.

  “The bricks thrown through Dr. Ridley’s windows had Blain’s fingerprints all over them. Not only that, but our crime guys found Blain’s truck and he had a load of bricks in the back. Are employees allowed to take bricks or rock from here?” Cade asked. Bruce shook his head.

  “They can buy brick and rock at an employee discount but they have to fill out a requisition first.” Bruce stated, picking up the receiver of his phone. “Amber, look in Blain’s record and see if he purchased product?” Bruce stated and then waited. Cade watched him pale. He hung up and looked back to Cade.

  “looks like he took them without permission. I can’t believe this. He always seemed like a good kid but had a lot of issues. I know his dad had some problems with him in high school, drinking, womanizing. Do you have any suspects?” Bruce asked. Cade watched him.

  “Not yet, Sir, did your wife tell you about finding your daughter?” Cade asked. Bruce closed his eyes.

  “Step daughter and yes.” Bruce stated. Cade noticed the man didn’t seem to disturbed that his daughter had disappeared.

  “You don’t seem too upset about that sir.” Ellie stated. Cade watched Bruce flinch.

  “Not much reason to be upset. She’s been gone a long time. I came to terms with it a while ago but Katie, she was holding on to hope that Leslie would just show up one day. We had hoped that she had just run off and would come to her senses eventually. Honestly, after raising Tabitha for 23 years, it would have been very hard for us to give her up if Leslie did come back.” Bruce stated. Cade felt Ellie tense.

  “What kind of a relationship did you have with your step daughter Mr. Beemer?” Ellie asked. Bruce narrowed his eyes at Ellie and for the first time, seemed angry.

  “I know what you are asking and I know what kind of rumors floated around about things I supposedly did to my daughter. They weren’t true. Leslie had a weakness for younger men, the school age type if you know what I mean. We did our best to try and get her some help but she refused to listen. Of course, psychologist tried to use the “something is going on at home” attitude and just assumed that she had some kind of trauma which was causing her to act that way. When she was 7, her mother caught her with her pants down around several younger boys in the neighborhood. We tried to play it off like it was just curiosity but it got worse as she got older. The doctors told us some girls have extra hormones which cause them to be slightly more sexually aroused then most girls. She developed early and that didn’t help either.” Bruce stated, looking like he wasn’t comfortable talking about his daughter sexual appetite.

  “She went to college?” Cade asked. Bruce nodded.

  “Yes, in spite of the other issues she was very intelligent and got into UW Eau Claire and got her degree in teaching. She came back here for the internship she needed to graduate.” Bruce said, taking another long sip of coffee.

  “That was in 1996 correct?” Cade asked. Bruce nodded.

  “Yes.” Bruce said and then turned away to get more coffee, not looking at either of them.

  “Sir, was Leslie sexually assaulted at the school?” Ellie asked. Cade looked at her and nodded his approval. She smiled at him and he felt his heart skip. They were in the middle of an investigation but he couldn’t help but feel the tug to take her back to his house and have his way with her. He glanced outside and noticed that the snow had started falling and it was coming down rather quickly since they had made it out to the query. Bruce sat back down in his chair and sighed.

  “She was, didn’t surprise me though. It was bound to happen.” He stated. Ellie shook her head and scowled.

  “Sir, no matter what kind of behavior Leslie exhibited, it never gave anyone the right to sexually assault her, especially if she wasn’t a willing participate. No consent means no sex.” Ellie stated. Cade could feel her anger.

  “I’m not saying it was right.” Bruce stated, sitting forward placing his forearms on his desk. “I’m just saying given her flirtatious nature, it didn’t surprise me when we got the call that something had happened.” Bruce stated. Cade looked at Ellie and then back to Bruce.

  “Who called you sir?” Cade asked.

  “I’m not really sure. It was a man, boy actually now that I think about it saying that Leslie had been sexually assaulted and she was on the way to the hospital. When we got there, Leslie was already being examined but she had specifically stated she didn’t want to have it investigated. She asked them to hold the DNA and label it as anonymous.” Brue stated. “What does any of this have to do with Blain being murdered.” Bruce asked confused. Cade debated on whether or not to tell him about the findings.

  “Sir we have two victims out at County road M and one of them was a match to the DNA that was taken for the SA kit for Leslie. It was Blain Rogers.” Cade stated. Bruce paled but his eyes remained unchanged.

  “Well I guess none of it matters now. Both of them are dead.” Bruce stated matter of fact. Ellie shook her head.

  “Sir it does matter. Did Leslie say who assaulted her?” Ellie asked. Bruce shook his head.

  “She said she couldn’t remember and that she just wanted to forget that it happened. Then she got pregnant and we urged her to come forward so we could hold the boy responsible but she refused to give up the names. We couldn’t force her. She had Tabitha and one day she left to go get formula late at night and never came back.” Bruce stated. Cade looked at Ellie who had a strange look on her face.

  “Are you ok?” Cade asked her. She nodded and leaned forward.

  “Sir, you said you tried to get your daughter help for her sexual issues. Did you take her to a counselor?” Ellie asked. Cade watched her start to shake as if she already knew the answer.

  “Yes, your father.” Bruce said. Ellie closed her eyes.

  “How long did she go see him and did you go or did she go alone.” Ellie asked.

  “We went with her the first time and then after that she went alone but…” Bruce stopped himself and watched Ellie.

  “But what?” Ellie asked. Bruce cleared his throat.

  “His methods were, cruel. He believed in physical punishment, whippings. Leslie came home with belt marks on her back and legs and after that we never made her go back. I tried to press charges but Katherine convinced me to let it go.” Bruce stated. Cade watche
d Ellie and he felt a huge weight pressing against his chest. Ellie’s father was looking more and more guilty, but of what? Murder, conspiracy, trafficking? Cade wasn’t sure. She jumped up and moved towards the window and spun around.

  “Sir, did you ever talk with my brother Alex?” Ellie asked. Bruce nodded.

  “Your brother was a great kid, was going places. A good football player I believe. We were all surprised when he just left town. The last time I saw him was at the hospital when we went to pick up Leslie after she had been Sexually Assaulted. Apparently, they were friends and she had called him about what happened.” Bruce stated. Cade felt like a lightbulb had gone on in his mind and Ellie must have had the same thought because she turned around with a look on her face that told him she knew exactly what he was thinking.

  “Thank you, Mr. Beemer. We may have more questions for you in the future. If you don’t mind, we would like to take a look around before we leave. Looks like a good snow might be coming in.” Cade stated trying to sound official. He really just wanted to get Ellie outside.

  “Of course, my business will be shut down once the heavy stuff comes in. Not much use for rock with 5 inches of ice on the ground.” He stated with a laugh. Cade took Ellie by the elbow and lead her outside.

  “Are you thinking what I’m thinking?” He asked. She turned around to face him, face pale.

  “I think my brother is the father of Leslie Cooper’s baby. But do you think he raped her? Why would Leslie even want to see him if he was one of her rapists?” Ellie stated. Cade was thinking the same thing.

  “Any chance of being able to contact your brother?” Cade asked. Ellie shook her head.

  “The only person I know of that knows where he was going was my grandmother and…my father.” Ellie stated. Cade shook his head.

  “There is someone else that might know.” Cade stated. Ellie looked at him with confusion.

  “Who?” She asked.

  “Your mother.”

  Chapter 27

  The room was silent as the leader sat with head in hands. Their leader did that when they were angry. Things were not going according to plan and another shipment of girls was expected. If they didn’t comply, their perfectly laid plans and all their effort would be for nothing. All the side things were unimportant compared to the main purpose for their group. Badger Falls hadn’t always had the money to grow their businesses and when the farming community took a dive, they leaned towards tourism which wasn’t easy considering it was so far North. But the right channels and some illegal actions, had skyrocketed their cozy town into one of the biggest tourist attractions in the area. Only one person could ruin all of their plans, Elinora Ridley. Why had she come back to town? Her grandmother was dead, her father hated her and her siblings, well, they had been taken care of so why now?

  The ME had not been a target until she had shown up unannounced with her questions and information. It was impossible to get to her now because the sheriff had placed a guard at her door. So many things had gone wrong and it was all Elinora’s fault. She had always been a strange girl with her visions. Her grandmother had claimed she had them to and what had that gotten her nothing but trouble.

  “You know there can be no mistakes. Mistakes 14 years ago are now costing us dearly. I want the thumb drive and I want those journals. I don’t care what you have to do. Some of you might be getting soft towards the lovely Elinora but make no mistake. I know what each of you have done and I will not take the fall for any of your indiscretions. Now, the good sheriff is now keeping company with Ms. Ridley so he is now the enemy as well. Do what you must to get his attention and draw him away from Elinora. It’s the only way we can continue doing what we are doing. Blain paid for his mistake, don’t be the next one to fall.” The leader stood and walked out of the room. The rest of the group filed out with a new purpose. No more threats, no more scare tactics, it was time for Elinora Ridley to die.

  ✽✽✽

  Cade sat in an interview room across from the skinny greasy suspect who had attacked Ellie. She said they were the guys who had kidnapped her years ago and the only way Cade was going to be able to use that information was if one of them confessed. He believed her but there was no way he was going to hold someone on a vision. His name was Earl Adams and he had a nice long history of misdemeanors. 42 years old, working at waste management for 15 years. He looked up at the snaggle toothed piece of crap that had tried to hold Ellie while his buddy moved to hurt her.

  “So, you are going a way for a while Earl.” Cade stated. The skinny man snarled at him.

  “You ain’t got nothin on me sheriff. Ain’t no law against asking a lady out on a date.” Earl sneered at Cade. Cade tried to keep his temper down and act like a cop and not a boyfriend. He took a deep breath.

  “If that had been what you were doing, there would have been no need to put your hands on her. Besides, that’s not what I’m talking about.” Cade said. He thought he caught a slight shift in the man but he quickly recovered.

  “I should sue you for using brute force man. I think my ribs are broken.” He stated rubbing at his chest. Cade hoped so. He deserved to be kicked by Ellie and Cade was pretty sure it wouldn’t hold up in court.

  “It will go much easier on you if you just confess cause your buddy in the other room is singing like a canary.” Cade lied. Fat Joe hadn’t said a damn word and kept complaining about the service in jail.

  “I don’t know what you are talking about.” Earl stated but Cade noticed he wouldn’t look him straight in the eye. Cade decided to just be honest but not say anything about Ellie’s visions.

  “You kidnapped Elinora Ridley 14 years ago and her sister.” Cade stated matter of fact. Earl squinted his eyes at Cade.

  “Who told you that?” Earl asked suspiciously. Cade felt his mind start to whirl. He had expected resistance but this dip shit caved right away.

  “I have a source. You and your buddy in the next room are going away for a long time for kidnapping and murder. Annawon Beartree has been rotting in prison thanks to you two.” Cade stated. The man sat up straight.

  “That wasn’t our idea, we wasn’t even supposed to take the other girl, just the goofy one.” Earl stated then snapped his mouth shut. Cade sat up straight.

  “What do you mean?” Cade stated, feeling his heart start to race. The man stiffened up and looked away.

  “I shouldn’t say anymore. Maybe I should get a lawyer.” He said not making eye contact with Cade. Cade wasn’t going to let him off that easy.

  “Tell me about the Ridley girls. If you want any chance of getting out of here, you will tell me exactly what I want to hear. Like I said, your buddy already told us, I just want to make sure your stories match.” Cade said. “It will go much easier for you if you help us out.” Earl didn’t look convinced but then slouched in his chair.

  “We, we got orders to go to Pastor Ridley’s house and take the youngest girl, the goofy one with the visions. She sure turned into a looker.” He stated with a wolfish smile. Cade yanked on the man’s handcuffs that were attached to the table in front of him, causing his face to bounce off of the table.

  “OW. Fuck sheriff. That’s assault.” He screamed. Cade shrugged.

  “Is it?” He said blandly. The man rubbed his nose on his shoulder the best he could. “Continue.” Cade growled.

  “We get in there and Joe grabs the girl but the sister comes out of her room. I had no choice because she saw me. We grabbed her too except we had to knock her out because she was fighting more than the other one. We got them both out to the woods and the psycho girl passed out. We thought she was having a fit but then she kicked me in the nuts and took off. We would have had her too but she disappeared and some jack assed saved her from the hole.” He said as he picked at a spot on the table. Cade couldn’t believe what he was hearing.

  “So, you are telling me you took those two girls and were going to do what with them, sell them off? Are you trafficking?” Cade’s mind started to spin. W
hat the hell was going on? This was bigger than he imagined and he needed to talk to the FBI and see what they had found out. “Why are you spilling your guts.” Cade asked. Earl had the decency to look embarrassed.

  “I’m 42 years old man. I’m a garbage man and have never left this town. People have been telling me what to do my whole life and for what, I aint made no profit out of it like they said.” Earl said with a huff. Cade sat up.

  “Who?” He asked. Could it be that easy? Earl shook his head.

  “Dunno. We get names, locations and how many. We don’t ask question and we get cash at the end of our delivery. We never see anyone, just cash in an envelope.” Earl stated. Cade stood up.

  “You sit tight.” He left the room and ran down the hall. He burst into his office to find Ellie sitting behind his desk with her head down fast asleep.

  “Ellie, Ellie baby wake up.” She lifted her head.

  “What…what’s going on. Oh, sorry. I just got so sleepy waiting for you.” She said softly. He couldn’t control his excitement.

  “Ellie we just got a huge break. Those jack asses that took you, they are working for traffickers. I need to call your buddies. This is bigger than me.” He stated picking up his phone. He listened to the phone ring.

  “Agent Hardy.” Cade heard on the other end.

  “Hardy, it’s Sheriff Masterson. We have big problem.”

  Hours later, Agent Brody, Agent Hardy, Ellie, and Cade were sitting around the large conference room table at the Sheriff’s Department. Cade stood and went to the white board.

  “Ok, let’s break it down. 14 years ago, Dr. Ridley and her sister were kidnapped from their home. Dr. Ridley escaped, Allison did not. If this is the case, then Annawon Beartree is innocent and has been serving time in prison for something he didn’t do. But how do we prove it?” Cade asked. Agent Hardy had taken his jacket off and rolled his sleeves up. He stood and walked towards the board.