Catch the Girl

by Melinda Woodhall

  “No…. please…. no.”

  The soft moan of distress made Eden jump. She stepped back from the window, her eyes moving to the bed positioned against the far wall. Ruth huddled under a thin white sheet. The thick comforter had fallen to the floor, pushed off the bed by the girl’s restless movements.

  Eden turned back to the window and pulled it shut with a loud thud, before securing the latch and lowering the blinds. She then hurried to the closet and pulled down another blanket.

  Looking down at Ruth’s sleeping form, now motionless, her thin figure seemed almost childlike. Eden bent to tuck the extra blanket around the girl, her eyes coming to rest on the pale, freckled face and the fragile, bruised neck.

  A hot burst of anger erupted in her chest at the thought that someone had purposefully inflicted those bruises, and that yet another violent abuser roamed Willow Bay.

  Eden forced herself to turn away, waiting for the rage to morph into the fierce determination that allowed her to keep fighting.

  Ruth’s going to get past this. And I’m going to help her. The monsters don’t get to win this time.

  She froze at a soft sound from the outer room, then looked toward the doorway. A shadow flickered past. Eden’s heart started to pound. Her mouth was suddenly dry as her mind raced.

  Why was the window open? Did someone get inside?

  Relief flooded through her as she heard the patter of paws and familiar snuffling sounds Duke made when he was exploring new territory. She stuck her head into the sitting room.

  “Duke! You nearly scared me to death.”

  The golden retriever looked at Eden with curious eyes, then continued sniffing around the room. Reggie appeared in the doorway behind him and smiled.

  “How’s she doing? Any better?”

  Eden put a finger to her lips and waved Reggie out into the hall. She guided Duke out as well and closed the door behind them.

  “She’s still sleeping. Obviously restless, but I think she’ll be out most of the night. We’d better wait until tomorrow to try to talk to her.”

  Reggie nodded, rubbing her hands together, trying to warm them.

  “It’s colder out there than I thought. Even Duke wanted to come back in once we felt the wind coming in off the river. He couldn’t get back inside fast enough.”

  A smile touched Eden’s lips as she looked down at Duke. He’d been her support animal for years now, and she felt like she knew him better than anyone. It didn’t surprise her that he’d wanted to come in from the cold.

  “Duke’s a smart dog,” Eden laughed. “And he likes his comforts. Besides, he grew up in Florida, which means he has thin blood.”

  Eden’s smile faded as they began walking back toward the front of the building. They’d have to find a way to get Ruth to talk soon. They needed to make sure she was safe, and that her abuser wasn’t out there hurting anyone else.

  “Reggie, will you talk to Ruth tomorrow? See if you can get her to open up? I’m worried…whoever hurt her is still out there.”

  “Of course. I’ll do whatever I can.”

  But Reggie didn’t sound optimistic.

  “If we can find out more about Ruth, it could lead us to the man who abused her,” Eden urged. “Even if she can’t remember everything, or won’t give us his name, any information could help.”

  Reggie stopped outside the dining room and turned to Eden.

  “Have you called the police? Asked if anyone matching Ruth’s description has been reported missing?”

  Eden bit her lip and shook her head.

  “No, not yet. I was hoping to have more to go on before I involved anyone else, but maybe you’re right. Maybe someone has reported her missing. It can’t hurt to ask.”

  ✽ ✽ ✽

  Eden left Reggie and Duke in the main dining room. The lively conversation of residents and staff faded away as she moved down the hall to the lobby. Sinking into a comfortable armchair by the window, Eden inhaled deeply, then took out her phone.

  Let’s hope Nessa will still take my call.

  The last time Eden had called Nessa Ainsley for help, she’d gotten the detective involved in a frantic search for a serial killer that had ended in the arrest of the town’s chief of police.

  The WBPD was still struggling to redeem itself in the eyes of the Willow Bay citizens, and Mayor Hadley was still looking for a new police chief capable of rebuilding the demoralized department.

  But as Eden scrolled through her contacts for Nessa’s number, her phone rang. A familiar name appeared on the display, then Nathan Rush’s voice boomed into Eden’s ear.

  “Eden, why haven’t you returned my call? Is everything okay?”

  The concern in Nathan’s voice had become a habit. Ever since Eden had left her role at Giant Leap Data to open the Mercy Harbor Foundation, her ex-partner had worried about her safety, sure that one day she would go too far in her quest to save the world.

  “I’m fine, Nathan. Just busy. How are things out there? San Francisco still surviving without me?”

  “Nothing’s the same without you, Eden,” Nathan said, his voice relaxing as they fell into their usual banter. “Which is why I want you and the kids to come out here for Christmas. I need to see you. I have some important news.”

  Eden laughed, sure that this was just one of Nathan’s ploys to make her feel guilty for neglecting him. Although they were no longer a couple, they were still friends, and she knew he often felt left out of her life.

  “Sure,” she teased. “Why don’t I just bring the whole gang and stay through the new year.”

  “That would be great. It’ll give us plenty of time to talk. You all can stay with me. I have plenty of room in my new place.”

  Eden had seen pictures of the elegant house Nathan had purchased with his profits from the technology start-up they’d founded together. She knew the price for such a house in San Francisco must be eyewatering, but it was well within his means after their company had gone public with a record-breaking IPO.

  Eden had used much of her profits from Giant Leap to open Mercy Harbor. She was grateful that the continued success of the company ensured she would be able to fund the foundation for years to come. It was her way of honoring Mercy’s memory. The only way she knew to make amends for failing to save her sister.

  “You can’t be serious, Nathan. I can’t just leave the foundation for weeks to go galivanting off to the west coast.”

  “So, who says you have to galivant? Maybe you and the kids could just hang out. Spend some time away from the drama.”

  The words came out as a reprimand, and Eden felt her back stiffen. She didn’t like Nathan’s implication that the kids were under undue stress. Hope and Devon were her number one priority. And besides, she was looking forward to spending Christmas with Leo. It would be their first Christmas together.

  “I can’t, Nathan. The kids and I have plans and-”

  “Plans are meant to be changed. Besides, I need to talk to you. And you keep telling me you’ll come out to tie up the loose ends here. What better time than when the kids are out of school?”

  Eden knew Nathan was probably right. She owed him a visit, if only to settle the matter of her remaining shares. He deserved that much after everything they’d been through together. They’d worked so hard to make Giant Leap a reality, and in the end the business had allowed her to fulfil her promise to Mercy.

  “I’ll think about it, Nathan, but I can’t promise anything.”

  As she disconnected the call, she pictured the hurt she would see in Leo Steele’s dark eyes if she told him she would be going to visit her ex for Christmas.

  Although Leo had never complained about her friendly relationship with Nathan, she sometimes imagined she could feel him tense up when her ex-partner’s name was mentioned. And she doubted he’d be pleased to have her leave town just before the holidays.

  Eden lifted her phone again, scrolling to find Nessa’s number.

  I can’t think about that n
ow. I need to find out what happened to Ruth first. Everything else can wait for tomorrow.

  Chapter Eight

  Ingram’s desk was meticulously organized, its surface polished to a gleaming shine underneath a tidy stack of neatly labeled files. Detective Nessa Ainsley looked over her shoulder, listening for any tell-tale footsteps in the hall, half-expecting Ingram or Ortiz to burst into the office demanding to know why she was rifling through their files.

  And what’ll I say then? I don’t even know what I’m looking for.

  All Nessa knew was that Detective Marc Ingram had been assigned as lead detective on a high-profile assault, and that his overly aggressive efforts to quickly solve the case had raised her suspicions.

  Ingram was up to something. Just what that was, Nessa still wasn’t sure. But she intended to find out before the high-strung detective could do something to further disgrace the WBPD.

  The fallout from Chief Kramer’s recent arrest had left the entire Willow Bay Police Department reeling; the detectives that worked with Nessa in the Violent Crimes unit had been hit especially hard. Marc Ingram, his partner Ruben Ortiz, and Nessa’s partner, Simon Jankowski, had all worked under Kramer for most of their careers. They were understandably shaken to find out that for the last decade their chief of police had been kidnapping and murdering young women.

  Nessa worried the shock might have been too much for Ingram to deal with. He’d started working late most nights, and some mornings when she came into the office she noticed he was wearing the same suit and tie he’d worn the day before, as if he’d never gone home. And now, looking at his pristine desk, Nessa was concerned.

  What detective in their right mind has a desk this neat?

  Gingerly opening the top file in the stack, Nessa froze, her eyes scanning the document within several times before she registered that she was reading a letter of recommendation from one of the city council members. Apparently the council member was convinced that Detective Marc Ingram should be Willow Bay’s next chief of police.

  A sudden buzzing from her cell phone startled her. She jerked her hand back, knocking the folder off the desk and spilling the stack of letters onto the floor. She scurried to collect the papers, her heart plummeting as she saw that Ingram had gotten a letter from almost every councilman in Willow Bay.

  Shoving the papers back into the folder, Nessa backed out of Ingram’s office and closed the door behind her. She took out her still-buzzing cell phone. Dazed by the terrible possibility that the weasel-like Detective Ingram may soon be her boss, she didn’t look at the display as she connected the call.

  “Nessa, it’s Eden Winthrop. Do you have a minute?”

  The soft voice on the other end of the connection was a surprise, prompting Nessa’s reply to slip out before she could censor herself.

  “Sure, just please don’t tell me another girl is missing.”

  Nessa bit her lip and sighed. She hadn’t meant to sound so ungrateful. Eden’s efforts to help abused and vulnerable women had resulted in the take down of several violent criminals in the last year, getting them off the streets of Willow Bay and saving innocent lives in the process.

  “I’m sorry, Eden. That didn’t come out right. How can I help?”

  “No problem. After everything that happened the last time I called asking you for a favor, I imagine my voice is the last thing you wanted to hear.”

  Eden’s understanding tone made Nessa feel even worse.

  “When I think about what could have happened if you hadn’t called…well, I should be thanking you, not avoiding your call. In fact, this whole darn town should be thanking you.”

  As the truth of her own words sank in, Nessa shivered. Chief Kramer had killed so many innocent people. If Eden hadn’t started the search for Kara Stanislaus he would likely still be out there hunting for more victims.

  “I appreciate the thought, Nessa, but I don’t need any thanks. What I do need is your help.”

  Nessa stepped into the office she shared with her partner, sat at her desk, and pulled out a thick pad of paper and a pen.

  “Okay, you got it. What can I do for you?”

  “You can check to see if anyone’s reported a missing person. Someone that matches the description of a girl that arrived at Mercy Harbor earlier today. She’s clearly been abused, but says she can’t remember what happened, or who hurt her.”

  Nessa raised her pen over the notepad, then paused.

  “So, you’re telling me that this time you’re not reporting a girl missing. You’re reporting, uh…a girl you found?”

  “Yes, I guess you could say that. Although it’s more like the girl found me. She walked into the Mercy Harbor administration building carrying a piece of paper with my name, along with Mercy Harbor’s address.”

  A frown settled between Nessa’s eyes as she listened.

  “Does this girl have a name?”

  “She says her name is Ruth, and she looks to be about twenty years old. She’s got red hair and brown eyes. Average height, but very slim.”

  “And you think someone may have reported her missing?”

  Nessa’s hands were already moving on the keyboard, navigating to the search screen for the department’s database.

  “It’s possible,” Eden said. “She’s obviously been hurt, and from the looks of her shoes and clothes, I’d say she’s been outside at least overnight.”

  As Nessa had expected, there weren’t any active missing person cases in the area. She widened her search to include the state and national databases.

  “We haven’t had any reports of missing women in the area,” Nessa said, her eyes on the search results. “And I don’t see anything that matches the description you gave in the state or national databases.”

  Eden sighed on the other end of the connection, but Nessa wasn’t ready to give up yet.

  “I’ll run a deeper search using the information we have on the woman…on Ruth…through the FBI database as well. They have cases going back decades. Maybe we’ll get a hit.”

  “Thanks, Nessa. I’d feel a lot better if you did that. And I’ve already asked our therapist, Reggie Horn, to meet with Ruth tomorrow. Hopefully, once Ruth has had a chance to rest, she can clear up some of these questions.”

  Loud voices sounded in the hall, and the door to the office swung open. Detective Simon Jankowski pushed his way in, followed by Detective Ruben Ortiz. The men quieted down when they caught sight of Nessa’s disapproving look and the phone in her hand.

  “I’ll plan on stopping by in the morning as well,” Nessa said, keeping her narrowed eyes on Jankowski’s face. “Just to make sure everything is okay and see if Ruth wants to make a statement.”

  After she’d disconnected the call, Nessa turned her full attention on Jankowski and Ortiz.

  “You boys seem to be all riled up. You got news to share?”

  They exchanged glances and Ortiz produced an embarrassed grin.

  “Ortiz was just sharing some gossip,” Jankowski said. “Nothing you’d be interested in I’m sure.”

  A sneaking suspicion grew in Nessa’s mind.

  “Actually, maybe I would be interested.”

  She stood next to her desk and crossed her arms in front of her.

  “Maybe you two have heard that Ingram fancies himself the next chief of police around here.”

  Both Jankowski and Ortiz gaped at Nessa.

  “What?” Jankowski’s voice reverberated around the little office. “That uptight little…”

  Ortiz began backing toward the door. From the flush that had reddened his handsome face, Nessa figured he knew about Ingram’s file full of recommendation letters.

  “Now, now, Jankowski, let’s not say anything about our future boss that we’re going to regret.”

  Nessa knew her sarcastic comment, delivered in her strongest southern accent, was bound to irritate Jankowski, but she couldn’t help herself.

  “Did you know about this, Ortiz?”

  Jankowski
turned around just as Ingram’s partner slipped out into the hall. He stared at the empty doorway, then looked back at Nessa.

  “We can’t let that happen, Nessa. Ingram is the worst person I can think of to take on the role. He’s not a leader. And…

  “And what?”

  Nessa stared up at her partner. His hazel eyes were blazing, and his jaw was clenched under an impressive five o’clock shadow.

  “I don’t trust him.”

  Jankowski’s words surprised Nessa. She knew he didn’t like Ingram, few people did, but she hadn’t thought he distrusted the man that had already been a detective back when Jankowski was still riding patrol.

  “Okay, so how do you plan on stopping him? I hate to tell you, but he’s got the backing of almost everyone on the city council.”

  Jankowski ran a distracted hand through his hair, shaking his head in disgust. He collapsed into his desk chair and stared over at Nessa with brooding eyes.

  “We’ve got to find another candidate for Mayor Hadley and the council to consider. Someone with a little more sense and a lot more personality than Ingram.”

  Nessa’s heart quickened as she remembered Jerry’s words from the night before. He’d been standing in the bathroom door watching her brush her teeth, his tall frame reflected in the mirror.

  “You’d make a mighty fine chief of police, Nessa.”

  His casual statement had taken her by surprise, but the idea, once planted, had quickly germinated and sprouted overnight, filling her mind.

  Yes, I would be a damn good chief, but Hadley would never hire a woman. Would he?

  She felt her phone buzz in her hand.

  “It’s Barker.”

  Jankowski grunted, still watching her, his eyes thoughtful.

  “I think I’ve got an idea about who could be a good alternative to Ingram,” Jankowski whispered as Nessa lifted the phone to her ear.

  Waving him away, she spoke into the phone.

  “Hey, Barker, what’s up?”

  Barker sounded depressed.

  “I just wondered if you could run a full background on Jacob Albright. Leo and I are going to go out to his commune tomorrow, and it’d be nice to know what we’re dealing with.”