Sarah Woods Mystery Series (1-6) Boxed Set (38 page)

Tattoo Face, clearly agitated, stormed into the house and slammed the screen door behind him.

“
Look,” Brenda said, backing up a few steps. “I don’t know anything. I only met him a few weeks ago when he joined the group.”

“
What group?”

She looked down. “The support group at my church for people who’ve lost a child.”

“
Are you saying you’ve lost a child?”

She looked away and nodded.

“
I’m so sorry.” My heart ached, but I had to keep Brenda talking. “Did Eric share his own experiences with the group?”

“
No. He said it was too painful. He just wanted to listen.”

I took a deep breath. “What happened the morning Eric died?”

Brenda’s nostrils flared as a deep frown formed on her face. “I was sleeping. Voices woke me up. Eric wasn’t in bed, so I got up to look for him. He wasn’t anywhere inside the house. I looked out the window toward the pool and saw him floating. I called out to him, but he didn’t answer. I went outside, walked over to the pool, and called his name again.” Brenda covered her eyes with her hand and shook her head. “A hand covered my mouth from behind. The man told me not to scream then warned me to leave right away, and to disappear for a few weeks. He said if I didn’t, I’d be dead, too.”

“
What did his voice sound like?” I asked.

She shrugged. “I was freaked out. I don’t really remember.” Tears ran down her face.

“
Did you ever see Eric’s neighbor? He’s in his sixties, about five foot six.”

She slapped her tears away and shook her head.

“
Did Eric ever mention the mother of his child, Jessica Sanborn?”

“
No. I told you; he didn’t talk about his past. Not even after two weeks of spending time together.”

“
I’m sorry,” I said, raising my hands apologetically. “I just have one more question. Why did you go back to your apartment yesterday?”

“
I needed my pills. I take them for depression. I have a prescription now. I don’t sell that shit anymore. I was only planning to be there for a few minutes when I heard you two breaking in. I thought you guys came to kill me.”

“
What about the photographs?”

Brenda blinked at us as if she had no idea what we were referring to.

“
The photographs of the children,” I said. “We found them in an envelope in your apartment.”

“
Those are pictures of the kids who died. The parents in the support group decided I would be the best person to put together a memorial.”

I glanced over at Max. He seemed content to let me do all the talking.

“
So Carla Foster must be in the group,” I said. “She’s the mother of the girl who drowned, right?”

“
Yeah, she’s in our group. Why?”

A cell phone rang and Max turned away to take the call.

I took a step toward Brenda. “Would you be willing to go to the police and give them a statement about the voice you heard the morning Eric died?”

“
I can’t,” she said, taking a few steps back. “I’ll go to jail if they think I’m involved. I’ve already been arrested a few times.”

“
They won’t arrest you, Brenda. You’ll be helping them this time. We already have an idea who’s behind all of this.”

“
Look,” Brenda glanced around nervously. “I don’t know anything else. I just want to go home.”

Max ended his call and returned. Our eyes met.

“
Was that Carter?” I asked.

“
Yeah. I told him everything Brenda just said. He and Richard are waiting for us out front.”

“
Who’s waiting out front? The cops?” Brenda asked

“
No, it’s the men we work for. They’re good guys,” Max said. “They’re going to drive you to the police station.”

“
Screw that,” she said, bending over to pick up the knife. “I’m not going with anyone. Stay away from me. I mean it.”

She darted across the backyard and around the corner of an adjacent house.

Max and I did nothing to stop her.

Chapter 32

We found Carter and Richard leaning against the rear hatch of their rental vehicle. Carter’s brow furrowed when he saw us. “Well, where the hell is she?” he asked.

“
She doesn’t trust anyone. She took off again,” I said.

Richard rubbed his eyes. I suspect he wasn’t looking forward to going back to the Sanborn’s with a dearth of positive information.

“
Just because Cunningham told Brenda his son was dead doesn’t mean it’s true.” As I spoke the words, I realized I was trying to convince myself as much as anyone else.

“
Do I tell the Sanborns what Brenda said about Toby or not?” Richard asked no one in particular.

Carter was the first to speak up. “I would. Just focus on the positive.”

“
Which is?”

“
There’s no proof he isn’t alive.”

Chapter 33

I watched Carter and Richard drive away with a sick feeling in the pit of my stomach. I didn’t envy their position, having to face Dr. Theo and Jessica.

After a sullen ten-minute drive, Max pulled the Jeep onto the white sand of a deserted beach. He reached over and caressed my face. “Are you okay, Sarah?”

“
This completely sucks,” I said, “Did you see Richard’s face? He looked as though he was about to cry.”

“
Everyone knows that the statistics of finding a missing child alive aren’t promising,” Max reminded me.

“
What if the abduction was all a charade? Has anyone ever really questioned the fact that Cunningham took his son?”

“
What about the money? He obviously took the ransom. How else could he afford to rent a house in Hawaii?”

“
I can’t help but think we’re missing something here.”

“
Such as?”

“
I’ve had a theory percolating in my mind for the last hour. I’m just not sure I’m ready to share it with you yet.”

Mother Nature must have sensed my mood as we made our way back to the hotel. Heavy winds began blowing in off the ocean as the sky turned into an ominous gray shroud. “We’d better run,” I said as we pulled into the parking lot. A torrential rain cascaded from the heavens before we hit the shelter of the lobby. We were completely drenched by the time we got inside.

Heads turned as we made our way to our rooms. We must have looked like two drowned rats. Max looked down at me as I stopped in front of my door. “Want me to come in and help you dry off?”

“
Ummm … sure, come on in.” I felt a dose of adrenalin charge my system. “I have a bottle of wine and I plan on drinking most of it tonight.”

“
Really?” Max stood there smiling as I opened the door.

“
You’d better get in here before I change my mind.”

He nodded, but his eyes seemed to say, are you sure?

He followed me into the room. I headed straight for the kitchenette and grabbed the Pinot Noir, but I was so flustered I couldn’t remember where I had put the corkscrew. I had to slow down and breathe. I had wondered how and when this encounter would go down for quite some time. Things just got real. 

I heard soft music begin to play in the living area. Max had found a radio, or maybe it was coming from the T.V.

Seconds later I heard his footsteps behind me. I felt his hands sliding down the curve of my hips. “Need some help?” he asked.

I turned around to find him shirtless, his smooth chest damp and glistening. I handed him the corkscrew, unable to stop staring at his chest.

He smiled, took the items from my hands, and placed them on the counter. His gentle eyes washed over me as he touched my face.

“
You’re shivering,” he said, brushing his thumb across my lower lip.

“
Am I? Must be these wet clothes.”

“
Yeah,” he said as he unbuttoned the top two pearl drop spheres. “Let’s rectify that situation.”

I raised my hands over my head as he peeled off the rain-soaked blouse, my see-through bra doing little to shield my pert nipples from his hungry eyes. He smiled wickedly, and tossed the shirt over his shoulder in an exaggerated motion like someone performing a strip tease. My nervous laughter echoed throughout the room.

“
Looks like your shorts are pretty wet, too,” he said. “We’d better make them go away.”

He went down on one knee and slid them down to my ankles. I stepped out with one leg and flicked them across the kitchen with the other. He lingered, caressing my calves as if he were admiring a priceless statue. “You’re beautiful,” he said.

My heart revved in my chest, his hands warm and soft on my skin. It was a solid stroke of luck that I’d chosen something sexy to wrap my assets in that morning. I closed my eyes and held on to his shoulders to prevent myself from swaying.

When I opened them he was standing again, his face inches from mine. He clenched my hips and lifted me up onto the counter. I wrapped my legs around his torso as his lips found my neck. He worked his way down to my breasts, caressing them gently with his hands. His mouth was wonderfully warm. I began to feel light-headed as his tongue traced circles around one nipple, then the other. He was obviously no stranger to the subtleties of what makes a woman tick in a sensual way.

As I ran my fingers through his hair, I thanked my lucky stars that this moment, this reality, was better than the fantasy I’d allowed my soul to explore time and time again. His mouth eventually found mine, lips pressed together, our tongues mingling. My hands slid down his body, taking time to appreciate the toned muscles in his chest, and his abdomen. Further south, I found his manhood registering full approval to my touch. It was then I wondered just how far I’d let myself go.

He must have sensed my hesitation. He looked into my eyes and held my face in his hands. “Do you want me to stop?”

I found it sweet and selfless that he was giving me an out, but I wasn’t about to take it. I wanted him. Now.

I smiled and unzipped him. “Not a chance, soldier.”

Chapter 34

The early morning light revealed the silhouette of the man I’d fantasized about for many months. I reached over and ran my fingers through the hair on Max’s chest. His heartbeat was slow and steady as he turned to look at me. A peaceful sweet expression formed on his face while I allowed my mind to drift back to the hours we’d spent together the night before. Max was a tender yet passionate lover, which terrified and delighted me. It wasn’t just about physicality or chemistry between us. What I felt for Max had grown from a healthy respect and friendship to something far deeper.

I leaned over, kissed his neck, breathed in his scent. My body was pleasantly sore in all the right places. Or all the wrong places, depending on how you looked at it.

“
Good morning,” he said, in a slow, sexy whisper. He wrapped an arm around my waist and pulled me in close. “How’d you sleep?”

“
Thanks to you I was thoroughly exhausted. I don’t think I’ve ever slept better.” I kissed his prickly chin and playfully fluffed up his matted hair. “And you?”

“
I had this dream about a beautiful, naked woman lying in bed with me.”

“
Well, I’m not so sure how beautiful I am right now, but the naked part is spot on.”

Max chuckled and slid his hand down toward my breasts. “You were amazing last night.”

I closed my eyes and soon felt his warm lips surrounding my nipple. “You weren’t too bad yourself.”

Max continued to work his way down the length of my torso when a startling noise pierced the silence. He mumbled something that sounded like, “Son of a bitch.”

“
Should we get that?” I lifted my head.

“
Do we have to?”

“
What if it’s Carter?” A feeling of hopelessness crept in again as I thought about Toby. I tried to block it out as Max’s lips continued on.

The cell phone went quiet and I tried to re-enter the wonderful waking dream I’d been experiencing, but the ringing started again.

“
Damn,” Max said, reaching over to grab the phone from the stand. “I should have turned this thing off.”

“
Maybe you should answer it,” I suggested.

He hit speakerphone. “Hey, Carter. What’s up?”

“
Dr. Theo asked me to call. He was hoping Sarah could help with Jessica.”

“
How’d you know she was here?”

Carter cleared his throat. “Never mind that. Jessica still hasn’t come out of her room, and her door is locked. He thinks Sarah might be able to talk some sense into her.”

I stared at the phone and smiled wearily. “Sure. We’ll be there in twenty minutes.”

Max ended the call and looked at me with sad, puppy dog eyes. “Like I said, I never should have answered that call. I like having you naked in my bed.”

“
And I like leaving you wanting more,” I said. I kissed the tip of his nose. He pinched my chin and smiled as I got up to head to the bathroom.

On the ride over to the house, my stomach churned for the full five-minute drive to the Sanborn’s, thinking about Jessica and how devastated she must be. I couldn’t blame her for isolating herself from everyone in order to grieve. It was then I thought about Brenda, too. She had suffered the loss of a child. It was beyond my comprehension how anyone could find the strength to go on after such a traumatic experience.

Max squeezed my knee and roused me from my thoughts as we pulled into the Sanborn’s driveway. “You okay?”

I nodded and slipped my hand over his. “What do you say to someone who has just found out her baby is probably dead?”

“
There’s nothing you can say. Just be there for her.”

I knew Max spoke from experience. I remember thinking the same thing when his sister was killed.

“
You must really miss Beth,” I said, caressing his hand. He hadn’t talked much about her, but I had a sense he thought of her constantly.

He shrugged but didn’t look at me. “It really hasn’t sunk in yet.”

“
If you ever want to talk about it, I’m a good listener.”

He squeezed my hand. “I do better not thinking about it. That’s my way of dealing right now. Maybe someday I’ll take you up on that offer, though.”

“
Fair enough. I guess we’d better go in.”

Everyone at the kitchen table looked up as Max and I entered the house. Alex O’Malley stood up to greet us. “Thanks for coming. Help yourself to coffee in the kitchen.”

Max offered to make me a cup. I stood by the table eager to get the pleasantries over with. I addressed the doctor with as much patience as I could muster. If he was going to ask for my help, I needed to be straightforward.

“
When was the last time you actually saw your daughter?” I asked.

The abrupt nature of my question didn’t faze the doctor this morning. He simply smiled and said, “Not since she trashed the kitchen yesterday morning.”

“
So you haven’t told her about Toby?”

He regarded me with stern eyes. “The door is locked. She refuses to let anyone in. How the hell can I tell her anything if she won’t let me see her?”

“
What if she’s unconscious? Maybe she took pills or something. Someone needs to get in there,” I said, not hiding the panic in my voice.

O’Malley was the first to speak. “She’s right, Theo. We need to get in there and check on her.”

The doctor interlaced his fingers and seemed to ponder the concept. “What do you suggest? Shall we just bust down her door? She just wants us to make a fuss over her. Well, I’ve done that her whole life. I’ve bent over backwards to give her everything.”

O’Malley lowered his head and made a face as if he’d heard this dissertation before. “I know, Theo,” he said, “but this situation is different.”

“
She has a right to know what’s going on,” I said. “You really think shielding her is the right decision?”

“
You think I don’t know what’s best for my daughter?” His lips curved inward as he glared at me.

“
I’m sure your intentions are good,” I said, trying to remain calm. “Forgive me, Doctor, but she’s a woman now. She has to learn to deal with real life.”

I knew I had overstepped my boundaries when the doctor suddenly stood up and pointed a finger at me. “I don’t need parenting advice right now. If you really want to help, go in and find out if she’s okay. Surely someone at this table knows how to pick a flimsy lock.”

“
What if she asks me about Toby? Do you expect me to lie?” I asked.

Carter raised his hands in the air. “Okay, let’s take a minute. This isn’t helping.”

The tense expression on the doctor’s face relaxed slightly. He smoothed his shirt and straightened up. “You’re right Carter, it’s readily apparent I’m not dealing with this situation very well, but I just found out yesterday that my grandson is probably dead, and no one can prove otherwise. So please forgive me if I’m a little on edge this morning.” With that, the doctor left the table.

O’Malley let out a long sigh, leaned back in his chair, and pushed his glasses up on the bridge of his nose. “Maybe he’s right. If we tell her about Toby right now--”

“
What if she finds out anyway?” I asked. “The consequences are far worse if she discovers the truth some other way. If the media gets wind of it---”

“
Point taken,” O’Malley said, holding up his hand. “You’ll tell her then?”

What a mess. “Fine. I’ll tell her. First, someone needs to get me into her room.”

Max knocked on Jessica’s door several times to no avail.

“
Do you mind putting your skills to good use again?” I asked.

Max produced his wallet, removed a small metal pick, and worked the lock. He twisted the knob and opened the door. “I’ll wait right here if you need me,” he said, backing away.

“
Thanks.”

I cracked the door barely an inch. I couldn’t see her so I slowly entered the room, praying I wouldn’t find her lying on the floor with an empty bottle of pills by her side. “Jessica? I’m just coming in to check on you. Everyone is worried.” I glanced across the room. The form lying in bed wasn’t moving so I moved towards it, taking measured steps. “Jessica? Are you okay?”

A faint mumbling sound came from the direction of the bed. I walked closer. The blankets were pulled up so I could barely see her face. I sat down on the edge of the bed and detected an odd scent.

She shuddered when I placed my hand atop the blankets. A faint, hollow voice said, “How … did you … get in here?”

“
Everyone was worried about you.” I leaned over to get a better look at her face, and was shocked by how pale her skin was. “I thought maybe you were unconscious.”

“
I’m fine. Please … I just want … to be alone.”

“
Can I get you something to eat?”

No response.

“
Jessica, we need to talk. I know you’re still dealing with Duane’s death, but there have been some new developments you should know about.” I reached over and placed the back of my hand on her forehead and immediately withdrew it. “Shit. You’re burning up.”

The next sound I heard resembled that of an injured animal as her body writhed under the blankets
.
“
Here, let me pull these covers down.”

She held the blankets tight to her face, preventing me from doing so.

“
I’m going to get your dad,” I said once it became apparent she wasn’t going to cooperate.

“
Wait.” She grabbed my wrist and pulled me back down to the edge of her bed. Her clammy fingers bore into my skin. “I don’t want my father in here.”

“
Jessica, you need medical attention.

She let go of my wrist and let out another groan. I heard her say, “It’s too late,” through gritted teeth. Her eyes welled with tears.

“
I’m calling an ambulance.” Jessica didn’t respond. I flung the blankets aside and instantly became horrified. A bloodstain the size of a beach ball had formed on the sheets directly beneath her torso. It was more blood than I had ever seen.

“
Oh. My. God!” I screamed for Max as I tried to figure out where the blood was coming from. Had she tried to commit suicide?

I was frantic as I peeled the blood-soaked clothing away from her skin in order to locate the wound. How long had she been suffering? The rancid stench was almost too much for me to handle. I fought the urge to vomit.

Max burst into the room and approached the bed. “What happened here?” When he looked down at Jessica his jaw dropped. I grabbed his arm and shook it. “Call an ambulance! Go get her father!”

Max ran out, leaving me alone again with Jessica. I leaned over her and lightly slapped her cheek. “What have you done?” She was unresponsive and her eyes remained closed.

My sense of panic subsided when her father appeared next to me. His calm demeanor astounded me as he examined his daughter. He took her pulse, lifted each eyelid then began to remove her clothing.

I heard the sirens in the distance. When it all became too much, I walked toward the hallway and into Max’s arms.

“
Come on, let’s get you cleaned up.”

“
There was so much blood,” I said as he led me to the bathroom. I barely made it to the toilet and threw-up the entire contents of my stomach.