In The Shadows (10 page)

 Chapter Nineteen

Brandon was happy to be back at work again. He enjoyed his time off and getting settled into his new place, but he missed being at work too. Brandon was really beginning to feel at home in his new surroundings and enjoyed spending time with Tonya. The more his thoughts rested on her, the more excited he was to see her again. When he walked into the office, some of the deputies surrounded him and questioned him about Danielle. They had been in an uproar since she had disappeared and were outraged that she was found in their county.

Brandon answered as many questions as he could, although he didn’t know much more than what they were asking. He then questioned the lead detective and asked to be kept informed on the case. It was after lunch when he was able to speak to his captain about the case. Once he laid everything out, he was surprised but excited his captain agreed to let him assist with the case.

The disappearance and the discovery had been made their number one priority. The town was on edge, and no one felt safe. After-school activities had been suspended until the sheriff’s office could provide more information as to what leads they had. Brandon got clearance to travel to Ohio and would be leaving Thursday after work. He would be able to change his shift next week if he needed to take more time off.

He wanted to question the family about Andrea’s belongings again. The local sheriff’s office had spoken with the Ohio authorities when the body was initially discovered. The family did not believe the body was that of Andrea’s, but Brandon wanted to rule out all possibilities.

When he returned from Ohio, he hoped to have a copy of Andrea’s medical records in hand to help with the identification process. Brandon was excited he was allowed to help with the case and couldn’t wait to tell Tonya.

* * *

The town was still overjoyed Danielle was found. They all thought it was a miracle Danielle was found alive, and everyone was buzzing with the news even on Monday. Even though one body had been found dead, finding Danielle alive gave the town hope again.

Everyone, including Danielle’s family, friends, and the authorities, were anxious to talk to her, but she was in no condition to do anything but rest. She was suffering from hypothermia, dehydration, frostbite on her knees and toes, and the list went on. Danielle had been sexually assaulted too, but the authorities didn’t make that news public. The news further devastated her already distraught family, and they were thankful the news wasn’t released to the public.

Natalie and Janelle walked to school Monday morning like they were floating on clouds. Although Danielle was still in ICU, the girls were so relieved she had been found alive. They weren’t allowed to visit her yet, but they would check with Janelle’s mom every day until they were allowed in to see her. Once Danielle was transferred to a regular room, the girls would be able to visit as much as they wanted to.

Natalie and Janelle were still trying to adjust to the whole kidnapping and Danielle being found barely alive, but they were coping. It mattered to neither of them what happened to Danielle while she was away; they felt God was protecting her and allowed her to be found safely. Nothing would ever change the way they felt about their friend.

* * *

Tonya was trying to get back into her routine. Her classes went well, and having gotten caught up on her class work made things a lot better; she felt prepared. When she stepped on the basketball court, she was given a hearty welcome from her teammates. Once she warmed up after a few drills, Tonya was filled with emotion and happy to be on the court again.

Tonya had been thinking about Danielle every idle minute since she’d been found. Flashes of Danielle’s half-naked body lying on the ground out in the woods continued to appear when Tonya’s mind was too idle.

Tonya was thankful she was finally cleared to play ball again. The court felt like home to her and had always been therapeutic when she had a lot on her mind. She would practice with the team every day that week and hoped to play in the next game if the coach thought she was ready.

Although it was nice to have a break, Tonya didn’t realize until she stepped back on the court with the ball in her hand just how much she’d missed playing ball and her teammates. Just listening to the sound of the laughter and chatter in the gym caused excitement to stir inside her, just as it had done since she was a little girl. There was nothing else that could bring her instant joy like the sound of the ball bouncing on the gym floor.

Tonya smiled when she thought of Brandon and their time together. She was glad he was there with her when Danielle was found. For whatever reason, Brandon always seemed to be in the right place at the right time. He made Tonya happy, and she couldn’t imagine being in Tuscaloosa without having him in her life. It had been almost six weeks since their first meeting, and Tonya still had butterflies when he was around.

They had planned to have dinner on Wednesday night since Brandon didn’t have class then. Tonya was really looking forward to spending more time with Brandon. Pushing thoughts of him aside, Tonya released a shot from the three-point line and focused her thoughts on the game again.

 Chapter Twenty

As Brandon listened to the hum of the airplane, his mind was filled with more thoughts. There were so many questions and emotions bouncing around inside him as he thought of his trip to see his mother and sister. Brandon wondered what kind of reception he would receive once he visited his family after so many years.

Maybe not on his first visit, but he hoped to eventually find out why his mother left him with his father so many years ago. He’d grown to deal with her absence as a teenager, but what child wouldn’t want to know their very own mother and her reason for not wanting them? Brandon knew whatever her reason was for leaving, it had to be a good one. He also knew his father probably played a big part in her decision to leave.

Drifting off to sleep, Brandon dreamt of the last happy memory he and his mother had. He dozed off and on during his flight; he remembered their trip to the local park where they had a picnic together. That was Brandon’s last memory of his mom. When he awoke, his happy mood soon turned sad as he realized that everything he’d just experienced was a dream.

Brandon had to refocus and remember why he was going to Ohio. His first order of business was to try to interview the missing girl’s family. He had to make good use of his time while he was away and spend it wisely. He needed to help the department close this case.

It had already been two weeks, and Danielle was still not able to speak with them, which meant they didn’t have a lead. Brandon was sure that once she came to, she could provide some valuable information. The longer she remained in a coma, the longer her attacker had to plan his next attack. The doctors couldn’t be sure when or if Danielle would wake up, so Brandon knew he had to work around the clock in an attempt to bring Danielle’s attacker to justice.

* * *

While standing in line at the car rental office, Brandon thought of Tonya. She’d been on his mind since he’d left Alabama, and this confirmed his feelings for her. They’d been friends for a couple of months and had gone to dinner on a few occasions, but Brandon knew Tonya was not the average girl. She had captured his attention since their very first meeting. Although he wasn’t prepared to meet anyone like Tonya at that point in his life, Brandon was pleasantly surprised they clicked as well as and as fast as they did. Their chance meeting felt like fate.

Dinner Wednesday night confirmed she felt the same way about him. As excited as she was about his involvement in the case, Brandon saw the disappointment on her face too when he announced he’d be leaving the next day. Brandon wanted nothing more than to stay close to home to be near Tonya, but he also knew he could help close the case and couldn’t very well do that in Alabama.

When Brandon first met Tonya, the first thing he noticed was her beautiful smile and look of confidence. He quickly discovered she was more forward than he was accustomed to. Not only was Tonya a beautiful girl, she was very attractive physically as well. As much as he tried not to notice, he was constantly drawn to her physical build.

Tonya had the body of a typical track-and-field sprinter. She was about five foot eight, with lean muscular arms and legs; her skin was flawless. Her chest was small, and her waist was smaller, which fit her body perfectly. Brandon could almost see the ripple from her abs through her well-fitted T-shirt.

Brandon found himself smiling when the lady approached him from behind the counter as she asked if she could assist him. He was suddenly embarrassed as he allowed his thoughts to take him back to Alabama. As Brandon loaded the Mazda 3, he searched his bag for his earpiece to call Tonya and let her know he’d made it safely.

* * *

Tonya was just finishing up her classes for the day when Brandon called. She missed him already and couldn’t wait for his return. She’d not seen him in two days, and it was already Friday; and she had grown accustomed to spending part, if not all, of her weekend with him.

Brandon was due at the Stevens’s home that afternoon. He hoped to interview the family and if he was able to get all the questioning done that day, he would be headed to his mother’s that evening.

Tonya tried to convince Brandon to call his family before he showed up unannounced, but once he explained his reasoning, Tonya understood too. Brandon felt elated and overwhelmed just thinking about the opportunity of seeing his mom after all these years. He didn’t want a phone call to mess things up. He didn’t want his mom to prepare herself to see him or put on any false airs. He wanted to see her and remember her just as he would have had she still been in his life. An unannounced visit could confirm so many things he’d questioned over the years. He hoped this visit would tell him whether or not his mother ever truly loved him.

* * *

Tonya packed her overnight bag and headed to her aunt Mona’s house. She decided to spend the night with the girls. This would be her first sleepover since Danielle was found. Natalie and Janelle had rented movies and baked fudge brownies in preparation for her arrival. Tonya had spoken with her aunt earlier in the day, and she confirmed there had been no change in Danielle’s condition.

The girls planned to visit Danielle in the hospital on Saturday morning after they left the mall. Tonya had begun to feel almost 100 percent again since the accident. Her injury really took a lot out of her, but she was hopeful when she returned to the court full-time she would be back at the top of her game.

For the meantime, she would concentrate on her studies and family. She and the girls were still trying to piece together what had happened to Danielle. The police seemed to be at a dead end, but they assured Danielle’s family they were still working her case and would question Danielle as soon as she woke up.

Danielle’s father had gone back to Iraq and promised he’d be home again the moment she awoke. The entire community was still buzzing about Danielle being found alive. Her family and the girls were overjoyed and would be relieved when Danielle was released from the hospital. They knew she would need some time, and they were willing to give her that time.

 Chapter Twenty-One

Brandon rang the doorbell and was surprised to see an elderly woman slowly approaching the door. She opened the door slightly with the chain still in place.

“Hello, ma’am, my name is Brandon Masterson from the Tuscaloosa Sheriff’s department. I called you earlier about your daughter,” Brandon said, stepping back from the door and showing his badge. Once she seemed convinced by the validity of his badge, he continued, “Ma’am, is it okay if I come in to ask you a few questions?”

Without saying a word, the elderly woman slowly reached up and removed the chain to open the door. She invited Brandon inside and offered him something cold to drink. Brandon accepted water and allowed her a few minutes to gather herself.

“Andrea was a good girl and a good granddaughter. She was the typical teenager, you know. She was sometimes rebellious, but overall she was a good child.”

Andrea had some issues with her new stepfather and moved in with her grandmother almost a year ago. Andrea’s grandmother explained that Andrea’s mom was at work and would be there in an hour. She lived in the next community over from her mom. Andrea’s grandmother politely answered all the questions Brandon asked as he quickly jotted down notes in his notebook. Whatever Mrs. Stevens couldn’t answer, he hoped Andrea’s mom would be able to.

After she went into the kitchen to refill her coffee cup, Brandon stood to stretch his legs and look at the family photos. When he heard a school bus stop nearby, he soon heard footsteps on the front porch. Before Brandon could alert Mrs. Stevens to someone being at the front door, the door swung open; and a young girl, maybe thirteen years of age, walked briskly through the door. Brandon swallowed hard as he was taken aback by the strong resemblance she had to Andrea.

“Hi. I’m Brandon Masterson,” he heard, himself say extending his hand.

“Hi. I’m Naomi Stevens. Are you waiting for my grandmother?”

“I am,” he said, not wanting to divulge too much information. He wasn’t certain she knew what he was doing there, but he was positive she would soon.

“Are you here to speak with my mom about Andrea?” she asked, not looking anywhere else but in his eyes.

Now relieved the grandmother had returned, Brandon simply nodded to answer her.

“Naomi, this is the policeman from Alabama that your mom and I told you about.”

“Yes, ma’am, I remember.” She returned her attention to Brandon. “So you think you’re going to find out what really happened to my sister?” Naomi asked, hopeful.

Swallowing hard while looking from one to the other, he replied, “Naomi, we sure are going to try. I know what happened to your sister is a terrible thing, and everyone is still shocked. Things like that don’t happen in our town. So yes, we are going to do everything possible to find your sister. People just don’t go missing without a trace.”

After Naomi left the room, her grandmother told Brandon it might be helpful to talk to Naomi. She had taken her sister’s disappearance really hard. They weren’t the typical siblings that partook of infamous sibling rivalry. They were really good friends and looked out for one another.

Brandon watched as Naomi disappeared up the stairs. He wondered if Andrea had shared any secrets or useful information with her before her disappearance.

Mrs. Stevens finished her second cup of coffee and invited Brandon to sit out on the porch. He’d been there for an hour already and waited patiently for Naomi’s mother to get in from work. Speaking with the grandmother directly didn’t lead to any new discoveries. After waiting another half hour and speaking with the mother, Brandon decided the police who initially investigated the case were very thorough and had done their jobs.

As the mother disappeared inside the house, the grandmother gave Brandon directions to Marion. It was at least a forty-minute drive, and he’d been so busy questioning this family, he’d not bothered to look at a map. As he started to stretch his legs, Naomi and her grandmother appeared at the door.

Brandon almost kicked himself for not remembering he needed to question Naomi. Mrs. Stevens disappeared while Naomi joined Brandon on the porch. He invited her to have a seat while he stood on the steps, not wanting to make her feel uncomfortable. Brandon let a few minutes go by while Naomi relaxed in the swing. She soon began smiling as she remembered her big sister.

“You know, Andrea loved Ohio and everything about it, until she started visiting Alabama during the breaks. Andrea fell in love with the country,” Naomi said, laughing. “After our last few visits down there, Andrea wanted to go every chance she got but me, I didn’t like it as much. Alabama became her hangout, and I got to visit our relatives here during school breaks.”

Brandon listened to the mature girl talk about her sister and their relationship. “How old are you again?” Brandon asked Naomi.

“I’ll be fifteen in February,” she stated proudly.

Brandon knew she seemed mature for her age as he marveled at her baby face. The resemblance she and Andrea shared was remarkable. Then taking a seat on the steps, Brandon looked up at Naomi. “Did your sister ever tell you she was seeing someone in Alabama?”

The smile faded as Naomi seemed to be concentrating on the question. She looked in the direction of the front door and then back at Brandon, who was watching her intently. “Well, sure, she had friends, and some of them happened to be boys.”

Just listening to her vague response, Brandon knew she knew more than she was letting on. After Brandon had gotten nowhere with Naomi, he rose from the steps to leave. “Well, Naomi, you’ve been very helpful, and I appreciate your willingness to speak with me.”

Brandon reached in his pocket and pulled out two business cards. Presenting them to her, he said, “Naomi, if you or your family think of anything, no matter how insignificant you think it may be, please don’t hesitate to call me. I will not stop until I find out what happened to your sister.”

Just then, Brandon watched Naomi’s expression change, and he thought he’d finally said something to encourage her to talk, but she closed her mouth and waved as she turned to walk away.

* * *

Once inside the rental car, Brandon made a few notes in his notepad before driving off. It was almost four in the afternoon, and he smiled when he got onto the interstate and found the rush hour traffic gone. Surely his trip wouldn’t take him over an hour. The closer he got to Marion, the more anxious he became.

He reached for the phone to call Tonya but didn’t want to talk about the case and decided against calling. He figured he would let her enjoy her time with her family this once without him interrupting. He knew she had become overwhelmed with Danielle’s case.

That day, Brandon had accomplished what he set out to do, and he then felt it was time to focus on himself. He turned the music up on the stereo and concentrated on his surroundings. Driving down the highway, it suddenly hit him that he’d soon be face-to-face with his long lost family. His mother was a beautiful woman, and although she wasn’t big on working out, she always seemed to keep a great figure. His baby sister was three or four when he last saw her, which would make her at least fifteen. He wondered what they looked like or if they would recognize him upon seeing him. The last picture he received was a few years back, but Brandon knew how quickly people could change in a short time.

When Brandon got off at his exit, he suddenly realized he would be arriving in less than twenty minutes empty-handed. Not many flower shops were open that time of day, so Brandon stopped at the local Wal-Mart and picked out a card and flowers for his mom and sister. He also chose a cute white teddy bear for his sister.

Now back in the car, he discovered he’d received a voice mail on his phone while he was away. Looking at the caller ID, Brandon realized the call was from his father. Brandon immediately closed the phone and refocused on the road. He did not want speaking with his father to ruin this special moment. He made a mental note to remember to call him once he got settled into his hotel room that night.

Brandon was sure he’d located the house and pulled up to the curb across the street. He pulled out the stack of letters and cards he had received over the years from his mother; he had bundled them together and stored them in his bag. The address matched the house he was studying, and Brandon was suddenly nervous. He wasn’t sure what to expect now or how long he would have to wait. After waiting a half hour, Brandon got a little restless. He had decided earlier he wouldn’t bother Tonya, but he needed to talk to her to keep his sanity.