by Sarah Markel
Max and Agent Frost would be in the van with the men, and Lieutenant Weston would be observing the Lasco property from inside the killer’s house. If anything happened on that property, Cordy would see it. When Agent Frost closed the door behind her, Max pulled Dani aside and kissed her deeply.
“Please be careful, Dani,” she whispered as she embraced the redhead, “If you’re grabbed, be compliant. Don’t give him a reason to hurt you.”
“I know, sweetheart,” Dani replied, gazing up into Max’s eyes when the woman pulled away, “I’ll be careful. I promise, we will be having breakfast together in the morning.”
“Ready to be pissed off at me?” Max asked, preparing herself to put the wheels of the trap in motion.
“As I’ll ever be,” Dani replied, placing her hand on the doorknob.
“You’re clear to initiate,” Harrison said in Dani’s ear.
Dani nodded to Max and yanked open the door.
“Daniela Jean Willows, don’t you walk away from me!” Max scolded, loud and harsh as Dani exited the house.
“No!” Dani shouted, spinning around on her sky-high heels and fisting her hands on her hips as she glared at Max. “I’m sick of being cooped up in the house. I’m tired of wearing the crappy clothes you bought for me, and I am sick of all the rules!”
“Daniela, I told you that you were not leaving the house in that outfit. Now, get back in here and change,” Max reprimanded, crossing her arms over her chest as she stepped onto the porch.
Neighbors that had been outside in their yards turned to stare at the arguing women.
“No, Mom,” Dani countered, “I’m seventeen. This is how I want to dress. I’m going out for a walk and I will be back before curfew.”
As Dani turned and started down the sidewalk, Max lunged forward and grabbed her arm. “If you walk out that gate, Missy, you are grounded for the rest of the school year.”
Dani yanked her arm out of Max’s grasp and screamed in frustration. “Then ground me! I’ll be eighteen before school gets out, then I don’t have to deal with you anymore.”
Max worked a look of hurt onto her face and stood staring as Dani marched through the gate and took a left down the sidewalk.
“Is everything alright, Ms. Willows?” Joshua Chen, the neighbor to Max’s right, asked with concern.
Max blew out a breath and turned to face the kindly older man. “Yes, Mr. Chen. Daniela and I are having a disagreement, that’s all.”
Mr. Chen gave the woman a sympathetic smile. “It will blow over,” he assured, “she seems like a sweet kid. Are you sure she will be back before dark, though? I’d hate to see her get herself into trouble with the cops.”
Max nodded and smiled. “I hope so. She knows what’s going on in town and I don’t think she will put herself in danger, just because she’s angry with me.”
Mr. Chen gazed down the sidewalk and watched as Dani rounded the corner onto the car bridge and headed toward the Upper Park. “I hope you’re right,” he muttered thoughtfully.
Max turned and watched Dani disappear from sight. With a heavy sigh, she turned back to the neighbor.
“I’m going down to the bar. If Daniela comes home before I do, would you be so kind as to call me?”
Mr. Chen agreed and plugged Max’s cell number into his phone. “I’m going to be out here in the yard until dark. When she shows up, I’ll give you a ring,” the man promised, waving goodbye as he returned to tending to his flowerbed.
***
“If I get poison ivy, I’m going to rub all over each and every one of you,” Dani grumbled as she made her way through the rough trails that wound through the small wooded patch that separated the park from the street.
“You’ll be fine,” Lieutenant Weston chuckled, “there’s no poison ivy growing in that area. The worst you might get is a tick.”
Dani grumbled again, making the others laugh. Everyone on the team was patched into Dani’s bug and could hear everything that was said over that frequency.
Dani had been scouring the four-acre park for over an hour. Aside from a young couple getting friendly in the gazebo, the area was empty.
She found nothing out of the ordinary during her canvas, and now that she had finally finished traipsing through the woods, Dani was ready to move on.
“Do you have any idea how hard it is to hike through the woods in a pair of stilettos?” she asked, pausing to lean against a tree and rub her ankle. She’d rolled the damn thing twice and was certain another stumble would result in a break.
“No,” Cordy replied, “but I’ll be sure to ask my wife. She wears heels everywhere. I don’t think the woman owns a pair of flat-soled shoes.”
“Well, your wife is a better woman than I,” Dani said as she left the front entrance of the park and headed back toward town.
Inside the van, Max, Frost, Young, and Harrison sat with their eyes glued to the images from Dani’s ear piece. On one screen, Harrison was working to assign names to each of the people Dani encountered.
Young was busying himself making still shots from the live feed. Frost was conferring with Cordy and the detectives, confirming that someone had eyes on Dani.
Max was watching the live feed, memorizing everything she saw from her wife’s perspective. Max and Dani had walked through the town together on a few occasions, familiarizing themselves with the layout.
Through her excursions with Melissa and the Fisk twins, Dani had visited a multitude of secluded places that the town’s teens liked to hang out. She noted nothing interesting or suspicious as she made the quarter-mile trek down Mitchell Street and back into the town proper.
“Dani, wait a minute. Young, rewind that shot,” Max said, leaning closer to the screen as Young reset the recording.
“What is it?” Dani asked, slowing her pace as she pretended to check her phone.
Max watched closely as the tape replayed. “Right there,” she said, pointing to the screen as Young paused the image, “Dani, turn back toward the City Hall building. I want you to look at the door to the cellar.”
Dani followed Max’s instruction, pretending to take pictures of the historic one-room jail attached to the back end of City Hall. The jail had not been used in over a century, but had been restored to its former glory as a tourist attraction.
The Pink Pokey, as the jail was touted, was painted a stomach-churning shade of pink and was used for photo shoots by tourists and townsfolk alike. Below the jail was a storm cellar that had once been used to store liquor during prohibition.
The Polk County Historical Society had condemned the cellar, stating the tight space was too much of a hazard to the public. The contents of the cellar were now on display in the City Hall lobby for public viewing.
“Look at the ground, to the right of the cellar door,” Max directed.
Dani looked down and scanned the area, stooping to get a better look as she used her thumb and forefinger to pick up a pair of thick-framed glasses that were lying in the grass.
“These are Melissa’s,” Dani said, inspecting the glasses carefully, “They’re damaged, but I recognize the frames. Hers are the only ones I’ve seen with the rainbows on the arms.”
“Put them back,” Max said. “Vickers, when Dani crosses the bridge you can go collect them,” she instructed the Detective assigned to watch Main Street.
Dani replaced the glasses and glanced at the door to the cellar. “I thought this was supposed to be locked,” she said, noting the absence of the heavy padlock that had previously sealed the door. Dani reached for the handle and pulled on the door, but it didn’t budge.
“I believe the city replaced the padlock with a key lock,” Cordy supplied. From her position in the attic of the Lasco house, Cordy was using binoculars to watch Dani on the other side of the river.
“It’s still locked,” Dani confirmed, moving down the path behind the City Hall toward the stone footbridge that led across the water to the Lower Park.
“Eyes on target,”
Detective Henson radioed when Dani reached the basketball court on the other side of the bridge.
From her position, Lieutenant Weston couldn’t see Dani through the tall pine trees that encircled the park. “Copy,” she confirmed as she lowered her binoculars and sat back to wait.
The Lower Park was much smaller than the Upper Park. A large slab of concrete covered the area just off the bridge, designating the area as a basketball court. Next to the concrete was a wide, flat area that went all the way down the block and ended at the car bridge.
Beside the basketball court was a small hill that plateaued in the middle. A tall metal slide, a swing set with six swings, a see-saw, and a set of monkey bars provided a play area for the younger children of town.
There weren’t any wooded areas to explore in this park. A set of stairs, similar to the stairs that led to the Fire Department, ran along the left side of the park. This made it easier to get to the road at the top of the hill.
The sun was beginning to set, and Dani could feel the evening chill start to set in. She wished she’d brought a jacket with her, but Frost had advised against wearing anything that might cover her body too much.
At Frost’s insistence, Dani was clad in a skin-tight black tank top that hugged and accentuated her full breasts. She also wore a black miniskirt and knee-high stiletto boots.
Her hair was combed straight back and held in place by an elastic headband. Aside from the hearing aid, the only other accessory Dani carried was her phone.
Dani sat in one of the swings and pretended to check her phone. She listened carefully to the sounds that surrounded her, and concentrated on tuning out the sounds of cicadas, crickets, and frogs.
She could hear children playing in the distance, and the hushed conversation of two adults. The sound of crunching leaves startled her, especially when she realized the source was somewhere behind her.
Stiffening as she prepared to defend herself, Dani spun her head toward the sound. She was startled to see Zeke Fisk standing behind her with a curious look on his face.
“Zeke!” Dani exclaimed in surprise, “you scared me. What are you doing out here? It’s almost curfew.”
Zeke continued to stare at the young woman for another moment, before shaking his head and claiming the swing next to her.
“I’m on my way home. I usually cut through the Lower Park when I walk by myself. What are you doing out here? And, why are you dressed like that?”
Dani glanced down at herself and shrugged. “I get tired of my clothes sometimes. When I do, I wear something that’s out of my comfort zone. My mom and I got into an argument about it, so I went for a walk to calm down.”
Zeke shrugged and kicked the swing back. He said nothing as he pumped his legs, sending himself higher into the air. “It’s a nice outfit, Daniela, but it doesn’t suit you.”
Dani was quiet as Zeke swung. She tried to decipher the reason for the boy’s warning tone, and was about to confront him about it.
Before she could, Zeke let go of the chain on the upswing. He sailed out of the rubber seat and landed several feet away. With a triumphant smile, he turned back to Dani.
“You should really get home, Daniela,” he said walking past the swings on his way to the stairs, “It’s not safe out here. Especially dressed like that.”
Dani watched Zeke until he disappeared across the bridge. The ominous tone in his voice put her on edge and she left the swing to follow him.
“Vickers,” Dani said, checking to make sure no one would hear her talking to herself, “tail Zeke Fisk. There’s something off about him.”
Vickers radioed his acknowledgment and Dani left the park. She re-traced her steps across the footbridge and skirted the edge of the properties as she headed down to Rock Ledge.
She walked carefully, mindful of the way her heels shifted on the dirt path. When she got to the small area across from the island, Dani stopped and listened. The snap of a twig sounded close and Dani scanned the area for the source.
She saw no one on the path or across the clear water. Dani concentrated on the sounds around her, listening for any further indication that someone was near.
“Cordy, can you see me?” she whispered, “I’m on the riverbank at Rock Ledge. The old lady’s house is directly behind me.”
Cordy moved to the dark window at the back of the attic. The river ran along the back side of the property and Cordy had an almost unobstructed view of the water. The old lady’s house was straight across the river from her post, so she had no trouble locating Dani.
“Copy, Dani, I see you.”
“Can you see anyone, or anything lurking about? I heard something, and I feel like I’m being watched,” Dani kept her voice low as she pulled off her heels and waded across to the island. The water was still fairly warm, but the chill in the air gave her goosebumps.
“Be advised,” Cordy said, “I don’t have a clear visual of Agent Prescott anymore. The willow tree is obstructing my view.”
“Ten-four,” the others acknowledged.
“Dani, status?” Frost demanded.
It was getting darker out and the camera on her ear piece was not equipped with night vision. They could still hear her, but the images on the screen were becoming less defined.
“Copy,” Dani whispered as she stepped out onto the island. She moved to the edge of the water, away from the tree. “Can you see me now?”
“Yes,” Cordy replied, “but I don’t see anything unusual.”
“I’m going to swim across to the Lasco property,” Dani advised, stepping out into the water. She left her boots on the island and held the phone between her teeth.
“I’ll lose visual again once you are on the bank,” Cordy warned, “I won’t be able to see you until you get to the edge of the trees.”
Dani grunted her understanding and eased herself into the deeper water. She swam carefully, using a lazy breast stroke to propel herself to the other side of the river. When she reached the narrow outcrop, Dani took a moment to look around.
The area was darker here, the thick trees blocking what little remained of the twilight. She could see the lights on in the houses across the water, but didn’t see the dark figure watching her from a mere twelve-feet away.
The figure was careful not to make any noise as Dani closed the distance between them. They knew Dani’s ears were sensitive and didn’t want to give away their presence.
Ten feet from where the path opened at the tree line, the figure’s arm shot out. Dani felt a sharp pinch of a hypodermic needle, just seconds before her eyes rolled back in her head.
The figure covered Dani’s head with a thick black hood and hoisted the woman’s limp, petite body into a fireman’s carry. Dani’s phone fell from her hands, but the figure didn’t bother to retrieve it. Instead, the figure moved rapidly through the trees, expertly navigating the uneven terrain.
When they reached the footbridge that led to the Lower Park, the figure stepped into the knee-deep water and waded across. The figure knew they wouldn’t be spotted, but didn’t want to take any unnecessary risks. The police had increased their patrols and widened their routes, which made getting to the hold site slightly more difficult.
The figure waited in the deep shadows between the bridge and the trees as a patrol car moved slowly in front of the City Hall building. As soon as the car made a left turn at the end of the narrow street, the figure darted across the grass to the cover of a wide crabapple tree.
The figure pulled a set of keys from inside their shirt and quickly unlocked the door to the cellar.
Carefully, the figure descended the rickety staircase and pulled on the rope tied to the inside of the door handle. With a loud clang, the door slammed shut and the figure used the key to lock it from the inside.
Chapter 16
“Dani, status,” Cordy said into her mic. Static crackled through her ear piece, but Cordy couldn’t hear Dani’s voice.
“Vickers, Henson, do either of you have a visua
l on Agent Prescott?” she asked, scanning the darkness behind the house for any sign of the younger redhead.
“Negative,” came their simultaneous reply.
In the van, Max shot Frost a concerned look. The camera on Dani’s earpiece showed nothing but darkness, which was to be expected. The sun was finishing its final descent beyond the horizon, and the images had gone into deep shadow as soon as Dani climbed out of the water.
“Agent Prescott, what’s your status?” Frost asked, her voice commanding. Again, silence was the only reply.
“I’m getting something on the audio,” Agent Young said, turning up the volume on the recording device.
“What is that?” Agent Harrison asked, squinting as he listened to the muffled echo that filled the van.
“It sounds like footsteps,” Max mused.
“I think it is,” Young agreed, “but she’s not walking on a firm surface.”
“How do you know that?” Max asked worriedly.
Agent Young turned to face Max and Frost. “When a person walks on a hard surface, their feet make a soft slapping sound. Dani left her boots on the island, remember? That means she’s barefoot. Whatever she’s walking on, its soft. Could be dirt or grass.”
“Why isn’t she responding?” Max asked. Anxiety sent her heart racing and a cold feeling of dread washed over her. “Young, ping her phone. See where she’s at.”
Agent Young began pressing buttons on the keyboard in front of him. Within seconds, a red blip appeared on the street map displayed on the wide screen above their heads.
“According to this, she’s near four-one-two South Main,” Young announced.
“No, she isn’t,” Cordy said through her radio, “I’m at four-one-two. That’s the Lasco house. I haven’t seen her come up the path yet.”
“Shh, I hear something,” Agent Harrison said, holding up his hand, “There! Listen closely, what do you hear?”
The others listened carefully at the sound of splashing and grunting. “Is she crossing the river again?” Frost asked.
“I think so,” Young said, turning his head slightly toward the console, “but I don’t think she’s alone. Listen, that doesn’t sound like Dani’s breathing pattern.”
