Visions Of The Past

by Elizabeth Mahood

  “Every family we interviewed had issues with their kids. Some of them had a history of sexual abuse, some parents treated their kids like they didn’t even exist, and several parents were more interested in their next fix than their kid. These are huge risk factors we look for in human trafficking, it’s what draws a potential victim towards a trafficker. They know the right words to get them to gravitate towards them. They are promised jobs, a roof over their head, people who care about them, a family; they will say anything to gain the trust of the kid and then once they are in the trafficking system, it’s very difficult to get out. In fact, in most cases, the kids either die or comply.” Hardy stated with his hands on his hips.

  Ellie had been quiet since Cade had told her about what her kidnapper had revealed. Joe, the larger of the two men had kept his silence but the other guy was singing like a canary. Cade believed him when he said he was just the delivery boy but it didn’t make him trust him anymore than he could throw him. He felt like he knew more and was holding back. She finally sat up.

  “Who are our suspects, I mean, we are coming up with plots but who could possibly be bold enough to be running a trafficking ring here in town and why?” Ellie asked. Cade thought that was a great question. He went to the board and picked up his black marker.

  “Ok so hear me out.” He stated, glanced at Ellie and watched her nod.

  “Thomas Ridley. He runs the church; he would know everyone coming and going at the right age. Just the fact that you were supposed to be taken that night and not your sister tells me he had something to do with it.” Cade stated, watching Ellie pale. It was a tough blow thinking that perhaps your own father wanted to get rid of you. He watched her take a sip of water as all eyes were on her.

  “I agree but I don’t think he runs the whole thing. He may be involved but I don’t think he is the mastermind. What about Kathrine Beemer?” Ellie asked. The agents and Cade flipped through a file.

  “It would make sense, all the girls from this area that came up missing had been through the shelter. She would know a lot about them and easily persuade them into feeling like the shelter was there to protect them.” Agent Brody stated. He had been a lot nicer since Cade had punched him and he hadn’t shown any disrespect towards Ellie since the incident. A ping sounded and Cade tapped on his computer.

  “I just got the ME’s report on your grandmother Ellie. Fuck.” Cade stated softly. He looked up to see Ellie watching him. He took a breath.

  “Cyanide.” He said. “Megan says in her email she could have been ingesting it for a while.” Cade said, watching Ellie grow even paler.

  “Who the hell would want to poison your grandmother?” Agent Hardy asked. Ellie looked up at Cade.

  “Someone she was close to, she said in her journals she knew who was behind whatever it was that was going on here. I don’t know where she put the rest of them.” Ellie stated, leaning down and grabbing her bag and pulling out several small books. Brody leaned forward.

  “What the hell are those?” He asked. Ellie held one up.

  “These are my grandmother’s journals about her life. She has been writing them since she was a girl right up until she died. She mentioned in the other journals that she knew who was to blame for what was going on in this town but it was in the other journals and that no one would ever find them. She hoped one day I would so I could understand what happened to my family. I always thought she was just talking about my father, my brother and my sister but maybe there is more to it than that.” Ellie stated. Brody was looking at the books oddly.

  “And you carry those around with you all the time?” He asked? Ellie narrowed her eyes at him.

  “Yes, why?” Ellie asked.

  “Perhaps that is the reason why someone threw bricks through your windows and wrote inappropriate comments on your walls at the hotel and ransacked your room. Someone is looking for those journals.” Brody stated. Cade looked at Brody and then to Ellie.

  “Do you think that’s possible?” she asked him. Cade nodded.

  “I suppose. Whatever your grandmother knew went to her grave or is in those journals. They must know that you have the journals but don’t know that some of them are missing.” Cade stated. Ellie sat up.

  “Put Mrs. Kramer on that list.” Ellie said. Cade looked at her oddly.

  “Why?” He asked. He knew Ellie had a reason but before he put anyone on the suspect board, there had to be a damn good reason for it.

  “She used to have tea with my grandmother pretty much every week. How easy would it be for her to put it in her tea when she wasn’t looking? I can’t imagine her doing such a thing but, she was the chemistry teacher.” Ellie stated. Cade nodded, turned and put her name on the list and made a mental note to go back and speak with her. She would have had access to Ellie’s room since she was the owner of the B&B. Cade held his hand over the white board and then wrote another name.

  “Chief Deputy Hank Rogers?” Ellie said questioningly. Cade turned to see her watching him with a sad look. She knew how he felt about Hank and how cops felt about other cops being dirty. He didn’t want to think about Hank being guilty of anything other than being bitter about Cade winning the Sheriff’s position and losing his wife and having to raise an unruly son.

  “He may not be directly involved but I feel like he has been hiding things from me for a while. Sloppy investigations, inadequate reports, disorganized office; I can’t help but wonder if he got involved in something and couldn’t get himself out of it. Kind of like our delivery boy’s downstairs.” Cade stated turning back to the group.

  “What about that thumb drive and Doctor Martin’s attack, plus the bodies missing from the morgue, do you think that it is all related?” Agent Hardy asked. Cade nodded.

  “I’m not sure but it has to. Let’s take a look at what’s on that thumb drive and see what Megan got shot over.” Cade stated, standing and pulling the thumb drive out of his pocket. He slid it into the USB slot on his laptop and the box showed up on the screen to open the file for Blain Rogers.

  “Blunt force trauma to the skull was the killer. That’s a given considering the state his face was in when we got there.” Cade stated. He saw Ellie shiver out of the corner of his eye. “Toxicology report came back negative for alcohol, some THC in his system and Meth. He was identified by his fingerprints which were in the system.” Cade stated feeling puzzled. He had looked up Blain Rogers and found nothing in the system. If he hadn’t been arrested for anything, why were his fingerprints here. If someone was trying to hide his identity, why not burn off or cut off the fingers as well as smashing in his head.” Cade stated.

  “Because they didn’t care if he was identified. Someone was trying to send a message, not just to me but to Hank.” Ellie stated. All three men turned her way. Cade watched her take a breath. Was she about to have another vision? If so, he was sure she wouldn’t want her counterparts to see it.

  “Ellie, let’s take a break in my office.” Cade stated trying to lead her out. She pulled back.

  “No, no I’m good.” She stated smiling at him, knowing what he was trying to do.

  “His blood was on my wall and they knew the bodies would be identified and taken to the morgue. What I don’t understand is why anyone would go to all the trouble to mess with the cameras, steal the bodies and shoot Megan?” Ellie stated. Cade sighed.

  “I think we need food. We have been doing this for hours. I can’t think without food in my stomach.” He stated as he stretched. The two agents nodded and stood grabbing their jackets.

  “I need coffee, real coffee. Not that swill you people brew in this place. I’m going to that diner with the hot waitress and to pick up a sandwich and some brew, anyone else?” Brody stated heading for the door. Agent Hardy raised a hand and Cade reached into his pocket to pull out his wallet.

  “Bring me a BLT and a black coffee, Ellie, what do you want?” Cade stated handing the agent money. Ellie looked up from the ME’s report.

  “Oh, a gril
led chicken salad and some tea please.” She stated then went back to the report. Cade shrugged and the agents left. Cade held out his hand to Ellie.

  “My office.” He stated. She looked at him curiously but took his hand.

  Chapter 28

  Ellie watched Cade close his office door, take her by the arms, turn her around and back her up against the door. His lips were on hers and his hands were all over her body.

  “I feel like I haven’t touched you in days.” He stated quietly against her lips. He had touched her in the shower, intimately, several times that morning but she understood what he meant. She ran her hands through his hair and heard him groan.

  “If there wasn’t still an office full of people, I would take you right here over my desk or have you straddle me in my chair.” He stated, kissing down her neck and to her collar bone. If they didn’t have a case to solve and she hadn’t just found out her grandmother had been murdered, she would have let him. That thought damped her mood and caused her to push him back.

  “What’s wrong?” He asked.

  “Cade, my grandmother was murdered, someone is probably after her journals and my whole family could be implicated in a trafficking ring covering the whole damn state.” She said in a panic. He pulled her back to him holding her tight.

  “I know and I’m sorry. I thought maybe this would be a good distraction.” He pulled back and looked down at her. She smiled and leaned up to kiss him.

  “It is. I’m sorry.” She said. He kissed her deeper and just as Cade was about to unbutton her shirt his phone rang. They jumped apart like teenagers and Cade winked at her as he answered the phone.

  “This is the Sheriff. What? When. Fuck ok, I’m on my way. Is anyone hurt?” Cade asked. Ellie watched his face turn panic stricken. “Ok I’ll be there as soon as I can.” He hung up and grabbed his jacket.

  “What’s wrong?” Ellie asked. Cade opened his door and headed out into the hallway.

  “My parents’ house is on fire. They were able to get out but everything is gone. All of it.” Cade stated. Ellie felt sick to her stomach. Just as they were about to go through the double doors, Ellie’s phone rang. She slid her finger on the call button.

  “Dr. Ridley? What, yes um sure. I don’t have Power of Attorney. Ok, I’m on my way.” Ellie stated looking up at Cade. “I need to go see my mom. Apparently, she’s been asking for me and doesn’t want them to call my father. Cade, I want to go with you.” Ellie stated. She wanted to be there for Cade but at the same time her mother needed her too.

  “Go baby, take my car. I’ll take the sheriff’s car.” He leaned in and kissed her. “Let me know when you get there ok?” He stated. She nodded.

  “Call me if you need me Cade.” She said. He nodded and ran down the stairs of the sheriff’s department. Ellie found Cade’s car and headed towards Green Bay. She followed the GPS to the Shady Meadows home for the mentally insane. Once inside, the same nurse who had been sitting at the reception desk the first time she and Cade had first seen her mother, was again sitting at the desk. The woman gave her a snide look and went back to her work. She signed in, grabbed a guest pass and headed towards her mother’s room. Just as she was about to pass the day room, she heard a beautiful soprano singing “How Great Thou Art”. Something drew her to the double doors and when she peered in through the small square window, she saw her mother at the piano, swaying back and forth with her eyes closed singing. Ellie moved through the double doors mesmerized by the voice. Memories of her mother humming to her as a little girl flooded her mind, the smell of chocolate chip cookies, her mother’s smile and then one day, it was gone. Her mom was a mousy quiet unapproachable parent and her father had become abusive. The music had stopped and Ellie focused on her mother in front of her. She was staring at her with tears in her eyes.

  “My beautiful girl. My how you have grown. You look just like me when I was your age. Come here and let me see you.” Evelyn said, standing from the piano bench and waving Ellie forward. Her mom folded her into her arms and she smelled of the same perfume she remembered as a child and antiseptics. This was no place for her mother.

  “Mom, what are you doing in this place? You don’t belong here.” Ellie stated. Evelyn ushered her over to the set of couches that she and Cade had occupied only a few days ago.

  “Where is that young man today? Cade, the one who brought you home that night. He is a keeper.” Her mom stated.

  “Mom, why did you ask them to call me and not dad?” Ellie asked her mother. Evelyn looked around as if her secret might be heard. Then in a whisper.

  “I know things. Things your father would kill me for if he knew I was telling you.” She said pulling back and looking around again.

  “What things mom?” Ellie asked. Her mom looked around again.

  “He wanted to send you away like he sent away Alex but someone made a mistake and all three of my babies were taken. I begged him to fix it but he told me it wasn’t any of my business. I heard him on the phone with someone, I don’t know who but it was a woman.” She looked around in disgust. “I think he was having an affair.” She whispered to Ellie then gave a short cry, holding her fingers to her lips.

  “Mom.” Ellie stated sadly taking her mom’s hand. Tears flowed down her mother’s cheeks once again and Ellie pulled her into a hug. Her mom pulled back and waved her off.

  “I’m not insane, I just can’t think with all that medication. Your grandmother warned me that your father was up to know good but he has the ability to block.” Evelyn stated. Ellie felt her heart skip a beat. She knew it. That’s what had happened that day at the church the first time she and Cade had gone to interview him. He had thrown up a mental block so she couldn’t see his mind.

  “Who do you think dad was having an affair with?” Ellie asked. She didn’t want to push her mother too hard but she needed answers. Her mom closed her eyes and shook her head.

  “Oh, I don’t know. It was just a feeling you know. A woman knows these things.” She stated. Ellie nodded. It was that same feeling that had led the FBI to Terrance and had almost gotten her killed.

  “What’s in the shed mom?” Ellie asked. Her mom looked at her curiously.

  “I…I don’t know. It was where he took you kids for your punishment. I hated that shed. I never agreed with the way he wanted to punish you three but he was the man of the house and no one went against Pastor Thomas Ridley, especially the pastor’s wife.” Evelyn stated. Ellie took a breath.

  “Mom, do you remember Blain Rogers, Jeff England, and Darius Taylor? They were friends with Alex, right?” Ellie asked. Her mother looked at her cautiously.

  “Yes.” She stated hesitantly. She didn’t want to lose her mother like they had the last time when they had discussed a difficult topic.

  “Why did Alex leave mom? Where did he go?” Ellie asked slowly. She watched her mother start to fidget with her fingers.

  “I…I can’t tell. I…I never wanted him to leave.” She whispered. Ellie took her mother’s hands and she felt a bolt of images hit her all at once. Was she having a vision, or was something else going on? Alex and her father arguing, the woman in her father’s office, Leslie Cooper, the baby, Alex leaving, her mother begging her father not to let him leave. She blinked and looked at her mother.

  “Alex is the father of Leslie Coopers daughter, isn’t he? Did he rape her mom?” Ellie asked. Her mother looked at her sternly and pulled her hands way.

  “Daughter? Leslie had an abortion and ran away. Your brother would never do something as scandalous as rape a woman. They were in love, it wasn’t right because she was older but once your father found out, he went to talk to the girl and the next thing we knew the baby was dead and she was gone. But there were rape allegations circling around him and his friends and your father thought it best to send him away.” Her mother stated shaking her head.

  “Is that what dad told you?” Ellie asked. She hoped that her visions weren’t the truth. As much as she hated her father, she didn’t
want to believe that he would commit murder, child abuser, absolutely but killer, she didn’t think so. Her mom put a hand to her mouth.

  “He sent him away. He went to work as a missionary in El Salvador. He’s been living down there ever since it happened. Leslie had an abortion and left. Your father is the only one who knows how to contact him.” Her mother said, tears flowing down her face. Ellie was stunned.

  “Mom, that’s a lie. The sheriff’s department discovered a mass grave mom, Leslie was one of the victims. She had the baby and someone killed her. Your granddaughter is living with Kathrine Beemer.” Ellie stated. Her mom shook her head.

  “That’s not possible. Your father told Alex and me that…” She started to say and then understanding lit up her eyes. “No, your father, he…he couldn’t have. I don’t understand.” She said on a sob. Ellie was starting to but there were several pieces that were still missing.

  “Mom, why did they accuse Annawon Beartree of Allison’s kidnapping?” She asked her mother. Her mother turned confused eyes on her.

  “I…I don’t know. They were sleeping together, she disappeared and they had no other persons of interest. She…she never returned.” Her mother said softly. Ellie couldn’t tell her mother that she thought Allison might be alive based on her vision.

  “Is there anyone else that might know how to contact Alex? We need him mom. He needs to know what’s going on. Why did you have them call me?” Ellie asked. Her mom straightened her back.

  “I have something for you. I forgot that I even had them, they are your grandmother’s.” Her mother stated, standing and moving over to the table to grab the books. Ellie took them and placed them in the bag that had the other journals in.

  “Why was it important for you to give these to me?” Ellie asked. Her mom took her hand.

  “She said you will understand once you read them.” Her mother said. Ellie felt her phone vibrate. It was Cade.