Catch the Girl

by Melinda Woodhall

  Jankowski pulled out his phone.

  “I’ll let her know. She can perform postmortems on both victims once she’s done here.”

  Nessa nodded, both mind and body numb, wondering if she should go ahead and call Jerry to let him know she would be working late. Maybe even hint that he should do the Christmas shopping for the boys this year without her.

  Afterall, it’s going to be a very busy day.

  Chapter Twenty

  The alarm clock emitted a shrill beep that would’ve woken the dead, but it was wasted on Barker; he was already awake. He’d been up half the night searching the internet for more information on the Congregation of Supreme Love and Jacob Albright. He’d finally fallen into bed sometime after two in the morning, dozing fitfully until just after six when a mockingbird outside his window began to warble, ruining any chance he had of going back to sleep.

  He brought his fist down on the snooze button, silencing the alarm. He studied the old clock radio, its black plastic case scratched and faded with time. It had occupied a place beside the bed for so many years, it seemed like a permanent fixture now. Caroline had set the alarm every night, always producing a sleepy smile when Barker awoke cursing at its incessant beeping in the morning. The thought of that smile sliced through him.

  Barker stood and stretched, wondering if it was too early to call Nessa. He wanted to run his suspicions by her. She was one of the few people whose opinion he trusted, and one of the few people who would care enough to listen.

  After hours of brooding over the situation, Barker had convinced himself that Taylor’s waitressing job at the Little Gator Diner must have brought her into contact with someone at the CSL commune. From what he saw the day before, there were dozens of people working and living in the compound. One of them must have seen Taylor.

  Jacob Albright’s handsome face flashed into Barker’s mind, and he grimaced as he remembered what both Nessa and Frankie had told him. The man was a sexual predator. He’d spent five years in state prison. And Jacob had been released from prison about the same time Taylor left her waitressing job. It seemed like a strange coincidence to Barker.

  Or maybe I’m just grasping at straws because I don’t have a fucking clue where Taylor is and if she’s all right.

  Picking up his cell phone, Barker tapped on Nessa’s number. She answered on the fifth ring.

  “Hi Barker. Hold on a minute…”

  Loud voices sounded in the background as Nessa spoke.

  “Sorry about that, but I’m at a crime scene and I can’t really talk now but…well, I just want to tell you…not to…not to worry. I mean, when you see the news.”

  Barker frowned, confused.

  “Why would I worry?”

  A siren sounded behind Nessa and Barker could hear someone yelling for everyone to back up.

  “A young woman’s body’s been found, and well, it’s a long story, but, um, it isn’t Taylor. I just…didn’t want you to worry.”

  The air left Barker’s lungs in one big rush, and it took a minute for him to catch his breath again.

  “Barker? Listen, I’ve gotta go. It’s bad here. I’ll…call you when I get a chance.”

  Before Barker could respond, the call had been disconnected. Nessa was gone.

  Barker threw his phone on the bed and walked into the living room wearing only his pajama bottoms. He picked up the remote and flipped on the television, navigating to Channel Ten news. If anyone had coverage of Willow Bay’s latest crime scene, it would be Channel Ten. The special news bulletin across the top of the broadcast made his heart sink: Body Found Hanging from East Willow Bridge.

  A reporter in a fluffy white parka and knee-high black boots stood in front of the old bridge. Crime scene tape and a few uniformed offers were keeping the reporters and the gathering crowd away from the scene, but Barker could see Nessa’s red curls peeking out from the hood of a WBPD jacket.

  “Detective Ainsley?”

  Nessa turned to the reporter calling her name and raised an eyebrow.

  “My sources tell me this is the second woman’s body found in two days. Can you confirm this information? Should the women of Willow Bay be worried?”

  The guarded look in Nessa’s eyes told Barker the reporter’s sources had indeed been correct. Two young women were dead.

  And don’t forget Taylor is still missing while I sit around in my pajamas waiting for someone else to figure out what’s going on.

  Jamming his thumb down hard on the OFF button, Barker hurried into his bedroom to get dressed.

  ✽ ✽ ✽

  When Barker arrived, Nessa stood just behind the crime scene tape talking to a slim woman with a shiny bob and a well-fitted trench coat. Gabriella Jankowski had wasted no time getting in front of the news cameras. Her position as Willow Bay’s media relations officer suited her, Barker thought, watching Jankowski’s ex-wife pose for a passing reporter.

  “Hey, Gabby, when are you going to have a statement for us?”

  A barrel-chested reporter with thick glasses and bad skin hovered just beyond the tape, his microphone gripped in his hand like a hammer. Gabby produced a brilliant smile, although Barker noticed the sparkle didn’t quite reach her eyes.

  “We’ll schedule a press conference as soon as we have something to share, Boyd,” she said, glancing at Nessa. “Won’t we, detective?”

  Nessa glared at the reporter then turned away, ignoring Gabby’s question. Barker scooted under the crime scene tape and grabbed Nessa’s arm.

  “I need to talk to you, Nessa.” Barker’s face was tense, his usual sardonic grin missing. “Please, just give me a minute.”

  He saw Nessa’s eyes searching the scene. He imagined she was looking for Jankowski. Her bulldog of a partner wouldn’t want Barker horning in on the scene or distracting Nessa from her duties.

  “I saw Jankowski heading back to his car,” Barker said, dropping his hand. “I just want to know what’s going on. If women are being killed, I need to know the details. I need to know if Taylor could have been-”

  “I told you, Taylor’s not one of the victims we’ve found.”

  Barker nodded. Nessa wouldn’t lie about something so important.

  “I know. I believe you. It’s just…maybe the perp who did it…maybe he’s done this before.”

  A look of pity crossed Nessa’s face before she could conceal it, and Barker realized she must think him pathetic. Here she was trying to solve a real-life murder, and he was conjuring up farfetched theories to explain why his daughter had moved out, and why she wouldn’t speak to him anymore.

  “You know what…forget it,” Barker said, running a hand through his graying hair. “I shouldn’t be bothering you.”

  “Barker, come on, you know I’m not supposed to release details until the vic’s next of kin has been notified.”

  She looked around, making sure no one else was within earshot, then lowered her voice.

  “We’re still tracking down the first victim’s family. We found her out at an old gas station off Highway 42, but apparently she went to Willow Bay High a few years back.”

  Barker leaned forward, his eyes bright.

  “So did my Taylor,” he said, trying to keep his voice even. “What’s the girl’s name?”

  “Candace Newbury,” Nessa said, her voice weary. “She was a friend of the other girl…the one Eden Winthrop was trying to help…the one we found this morning under the bridge.”

  A wave of dizziness passed over Barker as he absorbed the girl’s name. He closed his eyes to steady himself.

  “You okay, Barker?’ He opened his eyes to see Nessa’s worried face. “You aren’t having another one of those cardiac infarction things are you?”

  “No, I just…didn’t stop to eat breakfast. My blood sugar must be playing up.”

  Nessa looked doubtful, but she spotted Jankowski walking toward them and waved Barker away.

  “You can’t mention that I told you anything, Barker. I'll never hear the end of
it if Jankowski finds out I’ve compromised the investigation before I’ve even left the scene.”

  Slipping under the tape, Barker made his way back to the Prius, which he’d parked on the side of the crowded street, one wheel up on the curb. When he was back in the car he dialed Leo’s number.

  He wanted to tell Leo that a girl’s body had been found only a few miles away from the CSL commune, and that the victim had gone to school with Taylor. In fact, Candace Newbury and his daughter had been pretty good friends. They’d always seemed so happy hanging out together. But that had been years ago.

  And now one of them is dead, and the other is missing.

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Marie pulled the blanket up to her chin, snuggling under its soft warmth, her sleepy brain registering the unusual chill in the room. A sharp click pierced the stillness, followed by the faint squeak of a rusty hinge. Sitting up and pulling the blanket around her, Marie looked toward the door, expecting Sister Judith to begin scolding her for sleeping in.

  Instead, Brother Eli stuck his head into the dimly lit room, his white blonde hair slightly damp, as if he’d just stepped out of the shower.

  “Sister Marie? Sorry to wake you up, but it’s getting’ kinda late. Brother Jacob wants us all to meet in the main house.”

  Keeping his eyes on hers, he stepped further into the room, prompting an irrational flutter of panic to sharpen her tone.

  “Haven’t you ever heard of knocking?”

  She wrapped the blanket firmly around her body, her face arranged in an indignant scowl while her heart hammered a frightened beat.

  What if he won’t leave? Will anyone come if I scream?”

  Eli raised a hand to push back a lock of wet hair. Marie noticed scratches and cuts on his hand.

  “Sorry ‘bout that,” he said, not moving. “I should’ve knocked.”

  The door swung open behind Eli, revealing Judith Dunkel’s tall figure. Her eyes widened when she saw her son.

  “What are you doing in here, Eli?”

  Judith looked past him, a frown creasing her forehead when she saw Marie wrapped in the blanket.

  “It’s getting late, Sister Marie. We’re all expected in the meeting hall by ten o’clock. Shouldn’t you be up and dressed by now?”

  Marie nodded, smiling at Judith, relieved by her timely arrival.

  “Yes, I really should get going. Sister Ruth used to wake me up and I guess…well, I guess I’ll need to get myself up from now on.”

  Judith returned the smile, but a shadow crossed her face at the mention of Ruth. Her eyes flicked back to Eli and her jaw tightened.

  “Come on now, son. Let Sister Marie get dressed in peace.”

  Marie and Judith watched Eli leave, his pale face flushed pink under their scrutiny. Once he’d disappeared down the hall Judith turned to Marie, concern deepening the fine lines in her broad face.

  “Hope my boy didn’t bother you, dear. He means well, he does, but sometimes he just…gets carried away.”

  She sighed and bit her lip, as if trying to think of the right words.

  “I try to keep an eye on him but…he’s a grown man now, so maybe I should just do what he asks and…let him be.”

  As the tall woman turned to go, Marie reached out a hand, wanting to offer reassurance, feeling somehow guilty for adding weight to the woman’s burden.

  “It’ll be okay, Sister Judith,” Marie said awkwardly, drawing her hand back to clutch the blanket. “Sometimes people just want a little space from their parents, but that doesn’t mean they don’t need them anymore or that they don’t love them.”

  Judith smiled back at Marie, her amber eyes lighting up.

  “You must be a wonderful daughter to your own parents.”

  Marie flinched as if she’d been struck, quickly turning her face away, hiding the sudden tears that threatened.

  Would Sister Judith still call me a wonderful daughter if she knew that my mother’s dead and I haven’t visited her grave or seen my father in years?

  As Judith left the room, Marie glanced up, catching her own sad reflection in the mirror, the impulsive words she’d used about kids needing space from their parents replaying over and over in her head.

  Maybe all I needed was some space. Maybe now it’s time to go home.

  ✽ ✽ ✽

  The meeting room in the main house was packed full when Marie arrived. Every seat, bench, stool and spot to stand in was taken up by a member of the congregation. She couldn’t remember seeing everyone come together like this since Father Jed’s funeral the year before.

  It seemed to Marie that the congregation’s core mission had moved away from the loving fellowship and peaceful living that had drawn her in. Once Father Jed was gone, Jacob had begun pushing the congregation to work harder and harvest more, rarely gathering his flock for the kind of meeting which might negatively impact productivity.

  “Quiet everyone, please!”

  Jacob’s voice filled the room, his stern tone silencing the crowd.

  “I’m sure you’re all wondering why you’re in here when you have chores to do out there.”

  Standing at the front of the room, Jacob was tall enough to look out over the crowd. He searched each face before finding Marie near the back of the room. His eyes rested on her as he spoke.

  “As you’ve all heard, two of our members have chosen to leave us. They left without even saying goodbye, and we have no reason to believe they’ll be back.”

  Marie’s stomach ached at the thought of her friends.

  Where are you Candy and Ruth? Are you safe? Did you find help?

  She stared back at Jacob defiantly, turning away only after she saw Naomi standing behind her husband, watching Marie with hostile, narrowed eyes.

  “And you may have seen the outsiders yesterday,” Jacob continued. “Strangers that came to us, uninvited, trying to cause trouble, and trying to bring their worldly problems into our commune…into our home.”

  A murmur of discontent stirred through the crowd. A brittle voice shouted out from beside Jacob. People strained to see.

  “Father Jed didn’t like strangers tryin’ to tell us what to do.”

  It was Ma Verity. Her voice was slurred, and for an instant Marie wondered if the older woman had been drinking. The crowd pushed back, giving Ma Verity room to move closer to Jacob, who was nodding at her, an approving smile on his face.

  “Father Jed loved each and every one of you,” she hollered. “He built this compound to protect you. Now that he’s gone we can’t let evil get in. We can’t let them ruin everything he built!”

  “Amen!” Jacob called out, looking around at the people nearest to him, pulling Ma Verity and Naomi closer. “I made a promise to my father to protect my mother and my wife, and all of you. So, no matter what happens, I won’t let him down.”

  Several men cheered. Tobias Putnam beamed at his son-in-law.

  “Your father would be proud.”

  The crowd began to clap and several people around Marie surged forward, dragging her along. She tried to hold her ground but felt a wall of bodies behind her, pushing her forward.

  Suddenly a strong arm circled her waist and guided her toward the side of the room, forcing the people around them to make way. Once they’d reached the edge of the crowd, Marie looked down to see that the arm belonged to Eli. She gaped at him, not knowing if she should be thankful or furious.

  “Brother Jacob told us to protect our women,” Eli said with a proud grin. “So, I thought I’d start with you.”

  She decided on furious.

  “I don’t need protecting, Brother Eli.”

  Marie tried to step back, but she was already standing against the solid wall of the meeting room. There was nowhere else to go. Eli moved closer, his chest only inches from hers.

  “You may be surprised what you need, Sister Marie.”

  She swallowed hard, tempted to jerk her knee up between his legs the way her father had taught her. But somethin
g in his voice made her pause. He sounded sad, almost remorseful.

  “I don’t want to hurt you, you know.” Eli’s voice was almost a whisper. “I didn’t want to hurt-”

  A big hand fell on Eli’s shoulder before he finished his sentence.

  “You two stop whispering and come join in the celebration.”

  Jacob stood behind Eli, his cold blue eyes not matching the smile on his face. He pulled Eli toward the center of the room. Marie watched them go, curious about Eli’s comment.

  “I think Brother Eli likes you.”

  Naomi stood beside Marie, watching the men disappear into the crowd. She raised her eyebrows, her green eyes eager for Marie’s reaction.

  “But I guess you have your heart set on someone else?”

  Small white teeth flashed behind Naomi’s full lips as they twisted into a mocking smile.

  “No, I don’t actually,” Marie replied stiffly. “I came to CSL to find peace. The last thing I want is…well, a relationship.”

  Naomi rolled her eyes, choking out an angry laugh.

  “Oh, spare me the little virgin routine. You’ve had your sights set on my husband since you got here, just like your slutty little friend. He’s told me all about it.”

  Marie gasped at the hateful words, stunned by the sudden attack.

  “You must be pleased that Sister Candace is gone. Now you can have him all to yourself. At least until the next one of your kind comes along.”

  The crowd parted around them and Tobias Putnam made his way to Naomi’s side. He stared down at his daughter with concern.

  “You all right, honey?”

  Naomi jerked away, pushing past Priscilla Putnam who had appeared behind Tobias.

  “Naomi?” Priscilla looked after her daughter with worried eyes, then turned to scowl at Marie. “What did you say to upset her?”

  “I didn’t say anything.” Marie took a deep breath, willing herself to stay calm. “I just stood here while she…talked about Jacob.”

  Tobias laid a hand on his wife’s back and guided her away. He looked back with an apologetic smile.