Forgetting Jane (30 page)

“Why, Tommy?” Her voice gargled out.

“I’m sorry. Grandfather made me do it,” Tom replied as he took another step back from her. He trembled. “Get away from me!”

“Tommy, why? I loved you.”

Tom shook his head, shrieked out and lunged toward her with the knife.

Eli swore his heart stopped. He reacted without thought. He rolled over, grabbed his gun and shot. Right before the tip touched Jane’s skin, two bullets hit Tom. One was his.

His aim was true and went straight to Tom’s head, while the other was from Holmes, which hit the deputy’s wrist. The knife dropped, and so did Tom.

Jane collapsed too, hitting the ground hard. Eli raced over to her side, took off his jacket and covered her with it. His voice cracked when he spoke. “You’re safe now, Jane. He can’t hurt you anymore.”

Eli stared down at the shallow cut along her skin. The small gash would heal, but she’d have the inner scars for the rest of her life. He wrapped his arms around Jane and held her tight.

“Elias?”

“I’m here,” Eli said. He held Jane tighter.

“I-I can’t breathe.”

Eli choked out a laugh. “Sorry. The paramedics will be here shortly. Just hang on.” When he lifted her up and carried her to the truck, he noticed Jane’s foot. “Damn.” He placed her in the driver side, ran to the back and got a blanket and a towel.

He covered her up in the wool blanket and wrapped the towel tight around her foot to stop the bleeding.

A deluge of emotions overpowered Eli’s controlled demeanor. There was so much to say, but not there.

“Elias.” Jane’s voice was weak, like her body.

“Everything is going to be all right now,” Eli whispered.

“I know,” she uttered, then burst into tears.

April 4
th

Six months later

C
hristina stood at the edge of Beaver Lake, looking out over the calm clear water. She watched the rush of the spring wind scatter the crisp leaves of winter over the expanse. The once yellowed grass showed heavy promise of green at the roots. Time for rebirth.

How could someone mar such a beautiful place?
             

She tried to ignore the small flags sticking out of the ground where the state police and FBI had found bodies. But they were too hard to forget. A slight chill ran down her spine. She could have been one of them. Christina remembered the desperation she had felt in Tom’s basement—what he did to Caroline was unforgivable. He was a monster.

Her dark blonde hair whipped in her eyes; Christina controlled the strands by pushing them around her ears but she couldn’t stop the tears. She came here to reflect, heal and say goodbye.

Christina sent out a prayer of thanks to Jane Proster, the first victim. Without her, she might not have survived. Without her, the killings would have gone on.

Wiping her tears away, Christina would never forget the people who were involved, dead and alive. Her nightmares robbed her of her sleep at first, but day by day had eased off —with the help of Elias. He made her forget. She looked back at the truck, where he sat on top of the hood, watching her with a smile.

Christina had to laugh. In these past six months, how her life had changed drastically. The sad truth was, her life began when she was found half-buried in the ground. Strange, but she couldn’t imagine going back to her old life. Eli was a big part of that.

Christina couldn’t imagine her life without
him
. He was the pillar she leaned on when she was about to fall. He gave her the reason to stand strong and fight back. She loved him for that.

Ripples in the water turned Christina’s thoughts back to the girl in the yellow dress. They found Jane’s remains only a few feet from where she stood, along the water’s edge, just past the tall reeds and cattails.

Christina took the crisp air into her lungs and walked over to where Jane’s post stuck out. “I will always remember you. Thank you, Jane,” she said, sniffling back the tears.

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw the little girl in her yellow sundress. She stood a few feet from her. She smiled with such tenderness, mouthed “thank you,” and then disappeared.

Tears rushed down. Christina sensed happiness, closure. She laughed and cried at the same time.

Christina looked back at Elias. She could tell he was antsy to get moving. He kept adjusting his Giant’s cap.

Through all this, a miracle of love was found. She sent out one last prayer, turned and headed back to her future.

***

E
li slid off the hood and watched Christina walk back to him. She needed closure and so did he. During the last few months, he helped locate several bodies in the surrounding areas.              

After the Feds excavated nearly twenty-nine bodies around Beaver Lake, all locals. Calling those families was the hardest thing Eli had to do.

Most of the bones and decayed fragments were old and untraceable, but they’d been found and a proper burial was set for them.

The FBI traced back a few of the old unsolved murders cases that had the common links. It went as far west as California and as far south to Florida. Over forty-five more possible murders connected to either Henley or Tom, but without solid proof, no one knew for sure.             

Going through the house, they found Caroline’s body. It was a shame that she died. They also found shredded clothes, shoes and a few personal belongings that linked to the victims. Hundreds of boxes of black hair dye linked to the murders too. He never understood why Tom dyed the victims’ hair. Maybe the color reminded him of his mother, but Eli would never know. No one would.

And why serial killers like Tom and Henley escaped the world without notice until absolute carnage happened. Nonetheless, the killing spree was finally over. People could move on, especially him.

He stepped down from the chief’s position and Officer Tyler Ryan was elected in his place. The mayor was elated with the results. Poor Ryan.

Eli helped hire three more qualified officers and then settled a few more issues that the mayor had brought up. He forewarned the new chief to keep a level head when it came to Mayor Daniels, but that might be asking too much of even a patient man.

Eli had finally sold the farmhouse. Beth and Tyler, who were expecting twins in the coming November, bought it. The house needed new happy memories, and he was glad to let it go for half the market value.

With encouragement from Christina, he contacted the Half Moon police department. He was able to get his job back with probationary measures, which was fine by him.

Magda recovered fully and her resolution to retire soon after made him happy. Her decision to visit her home in Georgia came as a surprise but Eli thought it was about time. She told him, that life was too short to hold on to old ghosts. It was time to live. So true to those words.

Eli was in full agreement. All he needed was his Christina.

Christina smiled as she reached the truck. He drew her in his arms and kissed her soundly. “Are you ready to go?” he asked, taking advantage of another kiss.

“Yes.” She smiled back and touched his cheek. “Are you?”             

Without saying a word, he led her to the passenger side of the truck and opened it.

Once she got in, Eli closed her door and walked back to the driver’s side. He slammed his door shut, put the truck into drive and looked over at Christina. “I’m ready now.”

He turned the truck around and never looked back.

About the Author:

CJ Warrant is an Award Winning Author for dark romantic suspense and thrillers that pulls at your heart, makes you shiver with fear, and hope for a happy ending. A lover of coffee, baking and family, but not in that order—She’s a wife, a loving mother of three and a cosmetologist by trade. Drawing her experiences from her Korean Italian heritage and growing up as an Army brat, her stories stir in dark plots with addictive flawed characters you will fall in love with.

Visit CJ on the web at
www.cjwarrant.com

Acknowledgements:

The respect and admiration I have for these people will always be in my heart. The support they have given me throughout my journey, I will truly be thankful for.

I want to thank first and foremost to the Aphrodite Writers. Without all your wise words, encouragements and crazy antics, I wouldn’t be where I am today. To my Grammar Guru and sister from another mother, India Powers, you give me the power of words and a kick in the ass when I surely need it.

To Cici Edward, you took me into your fold, accepted me as I am, and gave me the courage to be true to who I am as a writer.

I would like to also thank the wonderful Lynn Hartzer for helping me with my query.

To my first chapter, Chicago-North RWA, I thank you for giving me the foundation of the craft, and friendships I will keep forever. To Windy City RWA, thank you for all the generous support and camaraderie I’m surrounded with.

I also want to thank my wonderful uncle, Raymond Rose, who has given me valued information into the world of law enforcement. To my kick-ass beta readers, Debbie Genc and Lori Neely, you ladies rock! And to my eighth grade English teacher, Mr. D., who had given me the inspiration and courage to dream this dream.

And finally to Solstice Publishing for taking a chance on a newbie author.

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