In The Shadows (25 page)

 Chapter Forty-Nine

It was the second day of the search, and Brandon had spoken with Tonya earlier on the phone. Tonya informed Brandon that she would be over after she finished her last class. The university had authorized students to join in the search for Katy, but the local sheriff’s office wanted to get a better handle on what they were dealing with before they allowed civilians on the scene.

Brandon and his father were in agreement. They had support from law enforcement officials from the surrounding cities and felt they had enough trained people on the ground. If Brandon felt they needed more people involved, he would have been the first to say so. Brandon told Tonya that Claire was on her way over, and he wanted to prepare for his meeting with her.

* * *

When Claire arrived, she looked as if she’d been crying since Katy disappeared. She had red-rimmed eyelids and was developing rings of worry around her youthful eyes. Claire was accompanied by her mother that day, and it was visible she was very distraught about her best friend being missing.

Brandon asked Claire questions about that day, and Claire struggled between sobs to answer his questions accurately.

Claire’s mom sat in agony while she listened to her daughter recall the events of that horrible day. Her mother’s heart broke, and she held Claire’s hand for support. Her baby was struck with heartwrenching turmoil, and her mother knew then the police could have easily been searching for Claire that day and not Katy. Pam was thankful her daughter was alive and closed her eyes in prayer as they finished talking.

Claire had told Brandon of her and Katy’s every move from start to finish. The girls had not deviated from their normal routine or paths. When Claire and Katy separated, Katy was headed home as usual. Somewhere between their parting ways and Katy’s bike being found, something terrible had happened. Claire couldn’t think of anything out of the ordinary taking place that day or on her ride home.

Katy was supposed to call her the moment she made it home, but she never did. Claire had hoped Katy’s plans had been changed, and she simply forgot to call. Claire never would’ve dreamt in a million years that something of this magnitude had taken place, and her friend was in the middle of it.

Claire prayed Katy was safe as she found herself overwhelmed with guilt and grief over her friend’s disappearance. Claire knew Katy’s route was longer than hers, which led to her feeling of guilt. Katy was stronger and faster than Claire and didn’t mind riding the extra three miles to get home after leaving the park.

The girls had discussed it before they started running, and Katy knew she could handle it, and she was in better physical shape than Claire, who was two years younger. So having to travel the three miles didn’t faze Katy at all, and Claire was appreciative. Claire had gotten choked up as the fear of the unknown raced throughout her body.

Brandon decided to give Claire a break and went into the kitchen to get her a bottle of water. Just as Brandon closed the refrigerator door, he overheard one of the deputies on the walkie-talkie. The deputy mentioned he thought he’d found the earrings they’d been looking for and wanted to speak with Brandon to confirm.

Brandon grabbed the walkie-talkie and walked into the living room to deliver Claire’s water. He continued into the operations center to finish his conversation. He was gone a couple of minutes before returning to the living room. Claire had calmed down and had stood to leave with her mother by her side. Brandon felt like he needed to say something encouraging to lift Claire’s spirit.

She seemed so torn realizing she was the last person to see Katy before she disappeared. Just as Claire and her mother reached the open door, Claire turned to Brandon suddenly.

“Deputy Masterson, you know those earrings you were talking about? Does it have anything to do with the case of that missing girl?”

Brandon stood in silence as he was taken aback by her question. His father appeared at his side. “Claire, do you have any information you would like to share with us?” he asked with Brandon following up with his own question, seemingly coming back to the present.

“Claire, how did you know I was looking for earrings? What made you ask?”

Now looking at her mom and back at her audience, Claire said, “Katy was in an uproar last week about them. She thought she had seen someone wearing them.” The room fell silent as both Brandon and his father began speaking at the same time.

“Claire, when was this?” Brandon asked.

“Can you identify the person that was wearing them?” her mom asked, beating Brandon to the question.

“Mom, this was on Thanksgiving Day at the shelter. And no, I cannot identify that person, but Katy seemed to be convinced. I was busy restocking the bread and butter when Katy mentioned it.” Claire suddenly became upset. “Now I wish I had paid more attention. I’m sorry I can’t tell you more.”

Brandon thanked Claire for sharing the information she did have and asked her to call if she remembered anything else, just as he had with Naomi.

* * *

As Danielle tossed and turned, she listened for the mop bucket as Nurse Bridges made her final rounds. Danielle realized either Nurse Bridges was departing earlier than normal or that the custodian was late for his shift. His usual demeanor had changed in the last several days, and Danielle wondered if anyone else noticed. Danielle listened for the whistling and heard nothing. She wondered if and when he would have the opportunity to sneak back into her room. Danielle prayed the nurses kept a close eye on her.

Danielle was getting stronger every day and had become more aware of her surroundings. Being inside the darkness all alone certainly gave Danielle time to reevaluate her life. She felt her senses had heightened since she’d been hospitalized. Danielle prayed constantly and felt this was what kept her mind sharp.

Although she felt she was getting stronger, Danielle always tried to show no sign of improvement whenever he was around. She felt he had recognized her from the building and knew it would only be a matter of time before he tried to get rid of her.

* * *

Tuesday’s search came and went and still no new evidence was discovered. The search had been expanded to include the surrounding neighborhoods near the gas station Katy visited that night. No one had seen anything out of the ordinary, and Brandon was falling deeper into despair.

Brandon was thankful for his father being there for support and keeping him sane. He was guilt-ridden for not keeping a closer eye on Katy and wouldn’t be able to live with himself if something horrible happened to his baby sister. Tonya was there to support Brandon as much as he would allow her to. She knew he was angry with himself and decided to support him any way he would let her.

* * *

Katy was hungry and had long ago digested the apple he’d brought in earlier. She was thankful for the water, but she still hated this man and vowed to kill him if she ever got the opportunity to. Katy soon drifted off to sleep and wondered why she suddenly became tired. She tried to focus on planning her escape but soon lost the strength to keep her heavy lids open. Katy forgot about her surroundings and the emptiness in the pit of her stomach as her head found a resting place on the hard, cold floor.

 Chapter Fifty

It was late Tuesday night when one of the high school’s varsity football players was struck and killed in a hit-and-run accident. Cody had just transferred to Northport H.S. at the beginning of the school year. He was very popular and well liked by the students and teachers alike. Cody was jogging beside the road just after dark and was struck from behind.

Cody never saw or heard the vehicle as it approached him, and by the time he turned to see the truck heading toward him, it was too late to react. As Cody lay in the ditch beside the road, he felt the warm blood ooze out of his body. He was able to climb up to the road where he took his last breath. Later that night, a passerby happened to see a reflective belt just off the road and stopped to investigate to find an unresponsive Cody.

The team that had been put on Katy’s disappearance was interrupted and temporarily dispersed as they were assigned to canvass the neighborhood looking for any vehicles with any visible front-end damage. The team questioned the residents for anyone who may have seen Cody out on the highway or saw anything suspicious.

Cody’s body was still warm, and investigators determined the time of the accident to be around 9:00 p.m., which was an hour before he was found. After Cody’s body was removed and the area was cordoned off, the sheriff’s office left two patrol cars to guard the area overnight. It would be daylight before they could conduct a thorough search of the area.

Brandon wanted to go and help with the case, but his father and his supervisor thought it would be best for Brandon to sit this one out. They had plenty officers on the scene, and besides, someone needed to stay by the phone. After everyone left for the accident scene, Brandon was able to meditate and reflect on the situation he was dealing with.

As he thought back to the conversation he’d had with Ms. Tyler, he couldn’t bring himself to tell her what had happened to Katy. Brandon would move heaven and earth to get his sister back home safely and that was exactly what he’d planned to do. It was then that he decided to call Tonya. He’d not been very communicative in the last few days and hoped Tonya understood that he was doing what he had to do to stay focused on finding Katy.

* * *

Tonya spoke with Brandon and knew he was faced with a difficult decision. His mom had not shown any signs of improvement, and Ms. Tyler had no idea Katy was missing. Brandon had to make a decision and prayed he was doing the right thing. Tonya advised him and patiently listened to him. She knew ultimately the decision would be his to make.

Tonya’s big test was in the morning, and once she was done, she planned to spend the rest of that evening by Brandon’s side. Because of all the activity on Tuesday, Tonya decided to let Brandon have a day to himself. She was sure he could use it. Tonya and Brandon prayed over the phone before finishing their conversation. Not only did their prayers cover Katy but extended to the family who’d just lost their son.

* * *

Carlos had finally scheduled his appointment with a counselor. His drinking habits would soon be the cause of his failing marriage, not to mention his declining health. Carlos was able to open up to his counselor and share with her some things he’d only processed internally since Andrea’s disappearance. The counselor was very empathetic to Carlos’s story and felt he needed to come clean with his wife and tell her what had been bothering him.

Carlos knew instantly that if he were to ever share his infidelity with his wife, their marriage would be over, and he’d have to deal with Andrea’s disappearance and the breakup of his family. Carlos was not so sure he would be able to deal with the consequences of what he’d done.

Carlos felt things had gone well after his first session. This made him proud of himself for finally letting go of some of his innermost secrets. He was scheduled to see the doctor again on Friday afternoon and would share the one thing he could not come to grasp with and that was his experience at the cemetery. He felt safe talking to the counselor, safe enough to not worry about being judged or considered crazy.

* * *

It was late Wednesday morning, and Danielle could hear conversations around her and the outside sounds coming from her window. The nurses and staff talking and laughing about their everyday lives gave Danielle hope that she would soon be able to tell her own stories. Just as she began to think of Myron, Danielle’s thoughts were rudely interrupted by the entrance of the medical staff.

It was time for Mrs. Bradford to take her final tests before being released. Her family had visited her at least once a day. From their conversations, Danielle knew Mrs. Bradford had three teenagers, two boys and a girl, and led a busy life. She and her family had only been in Northport since August, and Danielle could tell the family would be happy to have their mother home.

Before Danielle could return to her thoughts of Myron, the room suddenly fell quiet, and she could hear the hushed voices escaping from the pulled curtain. A piercing scream erupted from Mrs. Bradford’s frail body as she cried out in pain. She sounded as if she had suffered a severe injury as her high-pitched cry resonated throughout the east wing of the hospital.

Mrs. Bradford’s cry chilled Danielle’s body, and she was instantly frightened. Her cry was followed by sniffles and moans as the nursing staff worked feverishly to calm her with a sedative. Mrs. Bradford was crying uncontrollably and speaking things that couldn’t be understood. Danielle could only make out one word when she heard Mrs. Bradford repeatedly ask, “Why?”

* * *

Katy’s disappearance was hard on the community, but when the students at Northport High School arrived to school on Wednesday morning, they were informed about the student being killed in a hit-and-run. The whole school was in shock, and grief counselors were brought in from neighboring schools.

Natalie and Janelle were horrified to know that someone in their little town could be so cruel as to be involved in a hit-and-run. To hit someone was one thing, but to leave them on the side of the road and allow them to suffer and eventually die from the injuries they sustained was something totally odd for this close-knit community.

The girls were consoling their friends all morning long. The principal halted regularly scheduled classes to allow the students to try to understand what had taken place. Natalie and Janelle were just talking about the increase in criminal activity in their small town and couldn’t believe another tragedy had occurred so soon after their talk. The girls were scheduled to visit Danielle later that afternoon. They would catch the bus to the hospital and get a ride back with Janelle’s mom if she was working today.

Natalie decided she needed some alone time. Too much was happening too fast, and there was nothing she could do to slow it down. She was concerned about Danielle, Katy, and now Cody. It was all too much as Natalie felt the hot tears stream down her grief-stricken face. There had to be something she and Janelle could do. This was their town, and she simply wanted things to return to the way they were. Most importantly, she wanted to feel safe again and not feel like she had to look over her shoulder. She found herself dialing Tonya.

* * *

As Carlos drove home that afternoon, he’d just received news that Brandon’s baby sister, his young cousin, had gone missing over the weekend, and there had also been a hit-and-run Tuesday night in Northport. All the feelings and anxiety he’d felt when Andrea was missing came rushing back to him.

This time, instead of turning to alcohol, Carlos actually used a technique the counselor recommended and found it useful. He prayed it would work because he felt he was at the end of his rope. Although he could confide in his counselor, at that particular moment he felt all alone.

On his way home, Carlos picked up the phone to call Brandon. He knew his cousin could use a friendly voice and calling him to show his support was the least Carlos could do.

Brandon was surprised to hear from Carlos but was glad Carlos reached out to him. Brandon briefly spoke about the events leading up to Katy’s disappearance and what had taken place since she had been missing. Brandon was shocked and saddened by the hit-and-run incident that took the life of a high school student. He was sure the community was in total chaos and were now consumed with the fear that their streak of bad luck was just beginning.

Carlos thanked Brandon for taking care of him during his last visit and for convincing him to finally see a counselor. He offered his assistance and support to Brandon because he knew Brandon loved him and would do the same if the tables were turned. Although it wasn’t spoken, Carlos decided he needed to go home and be by Brandon’s side. He made arrangements to travel on Friday evening after his session and knew his wife would understand.

That night and the previous nights, Carlos woke up covered in sweat and gasping for air. He had relived the cemetery scene over again each night he closed his eyes. His heart went out to Katy, and he knew what Brandon was going through.

When Andrea had first disappeared, Carlos was a nervous wreck. He grieved for her every waking moment as he tried to continue on with his daily routine. The most difficult thing for Carlos was the reality that no one was aware of his love for Andrea but Andrea, and he was forced to mourn in silence and alone. Days turned to weeks and eventually weeks into months and still no sign of Andrea. Carlos prayed again before closing his eyes, hoping to get through the night without another nightmare.

* * *

Later that day, Danielle overheard the nurse telling Mr. Bradford that his wife’s test results were normal, and she would be released first thing in the morning. Mrs. Bradford’s release would allow them to grieve as a family and make the necessary arrangements for their son’s services. Danielle felt she would be more vulnerable to the man lurking outside her room once her roommate left; she hoped she was wrong.

Danielle held herself tightly as she tried to wrap her mind around everything that had happened. After she was able to clear her head, Danielle listened for sounds from the pulled curtain. The room was now quiet, and Danielle was unsure of what had taken place. Danielle felt like she had lost time. Later when Nurse Bridges came into the room, she was humming one of her favorite gospel songs. Danielle knew that whatever tragedy had occurred had touched the nursing staff as well.

As Nurse Bridges moved around the room, she adjusted Danielle’s pillows and position in the bed. Danielle felt Nurse Bridges’s eyes on her and wondered why there was hesitation as she stood over Danielle. Danielle could only imagine what she looked like and wondered if Nurse Bridges noticed something unusual about her.

Just then another nurse entered the room and began moving things around on Mrs. Bradford’s side of the room. Nurse Bridges immediately asked how the patient was doing. Danielle could envision the nurse shaking her head. Finally she said, “Mrs. Bradford is taking the news very hard, but what would you expect when a parent loses a child?” There it was; she had said it, and Danielle knew it had been something tragic. Her heart went out to the family.

* * *

Tonya stepped outside to take Natalie’s call. Tonya had not spoken with Natalie since that night and knew she needed to talk to her. The girls confirmed that they’d seen Danielle’s ring before but had not since she had been found. Tonya looked back at Brandon as he took a phone call and walked toward the back of the house. She heard Brandon mention Carlos and figured he needed some time alone to speak with him.

As Tonya took a seat on the steps, Natalie shared her feelings with her cousin. Tonya knew Natalie was upset and needed a sounding board as Tonya listened patiently. Natalie’s voice became very emotional as she expressed how she was feeling and soon she began to cry again. Tonya assured Natalie that things would return to normal and that the police were working overtime to bring stability back to the city of Northport and the surrounding area.

Tonya was concerned about the safety of the girls and the people of the community with all the recent activity. She wondered if the school board had considered closing the school for the remainder of the week. Tonya thought that would be best for the children who had been exposed to so much in so little time. Tonya took a deep breath and extended a prayer to heaven as she prayed over the community and their safety. Tonya agreed to meet Natalie and Janelle at the hospital to visit Danielle.

As Sheriff Masterson pulled into Brandon’s driveway, Brandon was walking Tonya to her car. Tonya knew that beneath the haggard and torn exterior was the handsome man she’d fallen in love with. She had been with Brandon the majority of the day since finishing her big exam. She and Brandon talked about Katy most of the day and tried to figure out what she would be doing to plan her escape. The search had turned up empty, but Tonya and Brandon remained hopeful.

* * *

The ring Danielle was wearing when she disappeared and Andrea’s earrings were still unaccounted for. Since Claire couldn’t remember who Katy suspected of wearing the earrings, Tonya decided she would ask Janelle later that afternoon when she went to the hospital. Brandon had not thought of questioning anyone else, and Tonya knew Katy’s disappearance and not getting the proper amount of rest was taking its toll on him.

Brandon had always been very perceptive and seemed to stay one step ahead of the rest, but now Tonya could see just what this tragic event had done to him. She encouraged him to take a sleep aid that night and allow his body to recover from the deprivation. As they hugged each other good-bye, Brandon promised he would take better care of himself. He knew what Tonya advised him to do would be best for himself, for Katy, and the entire team. He was no good to them if he wasn’t functioning at 100 percent.