Wicked Warning (An Ivy Morgan Mystery Book 5) (7 page)

I
vy left
a stack of search results and a note explaining her absence on Jack’s desk before heading over to the hospital. She knew he would be angry, but she was too antsy to remain at the office alone.

Ivy was flabbergasted when she parked in the hospital’s small lot, her eyes widening as she took in the three news vans and bevy of reporters lined up outside the building. Someone erected a barrier – Ivy figured it was probably Dr. Nesbitt himself – and the reporters were forced to stand behind it.

Apparently news was out, and the return of a girl missing for six years was going to be a big story.

Ivy purposely avoided the media throng and headed for the back entrance. The door was locked, but the nurse smoking by the back door smiled kindly and fobbed her inside. Ivy’s presence at Jessica’s bedside was a known factor, and given Jessica’s reticence to talk to most people, Ivy was allowed immediate entrance.

Jessica was alone in her room when Ivy arrived, and the smile Ivy shot the girl was one offering warm friendship. Jessica didn’t appear impressed.

“What are you doing here?”

“I came to visit you,” Ivy replied, refusing to take the girl’s tone personally. “How are you feeling?”

“I don’t know,” Jessica admitted, her fingers roaming the nubby blanket draped over her body. “I feel … as if I’ve stepped into another world and any second now I’m going to wake up and be in that room again.”

“I think that’s probably normal,” Ivy said, sitting in the empty chair next to the bed and glancing around. “Where are your parents?”

“They’re talking to the doctors,” Jessica replied. “They want to know how to make me feel normal when I get home.” Jessica’s laugh was harsh and guttural. “If they only knew, right? I’ll never feel normal again … at least not the normal they want.”

“You know, Jessica, I think they’re doing remarkably well given the circumstances,” Ivy said. “They’ve been living a hellish life since you were abducted. Now, don’t get me wrong, what you went through was much worse. You shouldn’t marginalize their feelings, though.”

“Is that what you think I’m doing?” Jessica looked legitimately interested.

Ivy shrugged. “I think you’re angry and the longer you’re free and realize what you’ve missed you’re going to grow angrier,” she answered. “I think that’s normal and you’ve earned your anger. Make sure to take it out on the people who warrant it, though. That is not your parents.”

“I know what you want from me,” Jessica said, her eyes hard as they locked with Ivy’s. “I don’t know who he is. I didn’t have a baby. Everyone keeps saying that … but it’s not true.”

“I don’t want anything from you,” Ivy replied. “I’m here to offer my help.”

“Why? You don’t know me.”

“I don’t,” Ivy agreed. “I want to get to know you. I think that’s allowed. I’m the one who caught you, after all. I want to make sure you stay on your feet.”

“How am I going to do that?” Jessica challenged, her eyes filling with tears. “How am I going to stay on my feet when I feel as if I’m drowning? I don’t remember this world. Have you looked at the television recently? It’s all crime shows. I don’t want to watch that.”

“Then don’t watch it,” Ivy suggested. “The great thing about television these days is that you can hook your set up to the Internet and watch whatever you want. Ask your parents about Netflix. If you can’t find something that piques your interest there, I’ll make Jack eat my feet.”

Jessica giggled, the sound taking Ivy by surprise. “Your feet?”

“It’s kind of a long story, but I made Jack eat morels in the spring – it was the first thing I ever cooked for him, in fact – and he claims they tasted like feet,” Ivy said. “Now we have a running joke about him eating my feet. He’s always bothered because I poke them out of the covers during the night.”

“He seems nice,” Jessica said. “Are you going to marry him?”

“Maybe,” Ivy replied. “We haven’t been together very long. It seems a little soon to think about marriage.”

“I assumed you guys had been together for a long time,” Jessica said. “He’s very … protective … of you.”

“He’s got a protective nature,” Ivy said. “I know you’re afraid of him. It’s okay. You’re not hurting his feelings when you react negatively to him.”

“He’s just so tall,” Jessica said. “He’s … big.”

“He is,” Ivy agreed. “He’s a marshmallow, though. He’s sweet … and cuddly … and he even watches chick flicks with me. Don’t tell anyone I told you that, though. He thinks it will ruin is man credibility.”

Jessica smiled, and for the first time the expression made it all the way to her eyes. “My parents want me to go home with them.”

“What do you want?”

“I want to go home,” Jessica replied. “What if I can’t live there, though? What am I supposed to do for a job? I’m nineteen. I didn’t graduate from high school. I … this wasn’t the life I saw myself living.”

“Well, it’s the life you have so we’ll deal with it,” Ivy said, opting to let her pragmatic side take over. “The truth is that you’re a smart girl. With a little studying you can get your diploma. If you need a job, once you’re fully recovered, you can work for me. I have a plant nursery on the far side of town.”

“I can’t be around people.”

“Then you can work in the greenhouse,” Ivy said, not missing a beat. “We’ll figure it out. You have time to do whatever you want. You can’t push your recovery, though. Getting your health on track is the most important thing right now.”

Jessica licked her lips and lowered her eyes. “Did you see all the news people outside? They’re here for me. They think what happened to me is something they have the right to talk about.”

“When a child goes missing and comes back six years later, that’s always going to be big news,” Ivy said. “They don’t think they own your story. They want to tell it because it gives other people in the same situation hope.”

“Do you think I should talk to them?” Jessica was incredulous.

“No. Not right away, at least. They’ll talk to the police right now. You shouldn’t talk to them until you’re ready to tell your story on your terms.”

“What if I’m never ready?” Jessica’s voice was barely a whisper.

“Then those are your terms,” Ivy replied, unruffled. “You’re in control of your life now. Your parents want to help. I want to help. Jack and Brian want to help, too. Everything from here on out is your decision, though. You have time to think about what you want. You don’t have to do anything that makes you uncomfortable.”

“I feel like an alien in my own body.”

Ivy smiled. “There’s a lot of good alien shows on Netflix,” she said. “I’ll bet we can find one on general cable right now, too, if we look around. Do you want to give it a shot?”

Jessica shrugged. “Why not?”

“
D
O YOU
have him
?”

Brian crouched low in a cluster of bushes, his gun drawn. He scanned another set of bushes a few feet away looking for Jack. He knew the man was close, but he couldn’t see him.

Once they approached Dan’s house they caught him fleeing the back door into the woods. He didn’t even try to talk to them. He also had a gun clutched in his hand. Brian called for backup, but Jack insisted on giving chase. He was worried they would lose the man forever if they waited for help.

Brian knew the woods where they hid fairly well, although he never trespassed on Dan’s property. Much like Ivy, he loved morel mushrooms and relentlessly hunted for them in the spring. He generally loved the quiet of the trees, but now he felt eerily exposed.

“Jack?”

Instead of answering, Brian heard feet pounding on the ground. He stood, raising his gun, and leveled his firearm on Dan as the man raced in his direction.

“Stop!”

Dan did as instructed, his eyes widening when they locked with Brian’s. “I didn’t do anything!”

“Then why did you run?”

“I … oomph.” Dan pitched forward, a gun falling from his hand as Jack tackled him from behind.

“I’ve got him,” Jack said, his expression grim as he pressed Dorsey to the ground and reached for his cuffs.

“Well done, Rambo,” Brian said dryly. “I’m pretty sure he was going to surrender, though.”

“Well, now he definitely surrendered,” Jack replied, unperturbed. “Let’s get him to the station so we can question him. I can’t wait to hear what he’s been up to.”

I
VY
left
the hospital shortly before two, giving the assembled reporters a wide berth as she circled the parking lot and headed toward her car. The news personalities ran continuous feeds, interviewing multiple residents, and Ivy couldn’t help but scowl when she saw Maisie talking to the local ABC affiliate reporter.

“I knew something was wrong the second I saw her,” Maisie said, her expression full of faux concern. “I wanted to help, but another woman pushed me out of the way and cut me out of the action. She’s a real drama queen, if you must know. I didn’t think it was really fair because I’m a librarian and I know how to take care of people, but I’m so glad I had a hand in finding this girl. She belongs with her family.”

“Yeah, you’re a real hero,” Ivy muttered, scowling.

“What’s up, hot stuff?”

Ivy jumped when Jack slid in behind her and pressed a kiss to her neck. “You scared me,” she said. “I didn’t feel you.”

Jack cocked an eyebrow. “Do you usually feel me before I touch you?”

“I … sometimes,” Ivy admitted. “It’s not that I can feel you as much as I can sense you. Something inside of you calls out to me.”

“I feel that way, too,” Jack said, kissing her lips. “I got your note. I’m not even going to yell about you taking off the way you did.”

“I’m an adult and I finished my searches,” Ivy countered. “I wanted to spend time with Jessica. I was perfectly safe. I mean … look at this. Who would approach me with this many cameras around?”

“Yeah, this is something else,” Jack said, his eyes cloudy as he scanned the crowd. “I saw quite a bit of this in the city, but I kind of forgot about it because Shadow Lake is so small. The national news personalities will arrive next.”

Ivy balked. “Are you joking?”

“I wish I was, honey,” he said. “This is going to be a huge story and everyone is going to be talking about it. It will be on cable news … and those
Dateline
people will show up to do a story I’m sure. It’s going to get worse before it gets better.”

“I hate this,” Ivy muttered, resting her head against Jack’s chest and allowing him to pull her close. “Jessica seems a little better than before. She’s confused and asking herself a lot of questions, but she’s not nearly as worked up as she was when we left earlier.”

“That’s good,” Jack said, resting his lips against Ivy’s forehead. “How are you holding up?”

“I’m fine.”

“How are you really?”

“I’m honestly fine, Jack,” Ivy replied. “I know you think I’m too involved – and you’re probably right – but I’m stronger than I look.”

“You’re the strongest person I know,” Jack said, guileless. “We found Dan Dorsey.”

“And?” Ivy pulled back so she could study Jack’s face, frowning when she saw the smudge of dirt on his cheek. She’d missed it the first time she looked at him. “Are you okay?”

“I’m fine,” Jack replied, letting her clean the spot. “I tackled Dan from behind because he took off into the woods. I must’ve got a little dirt on me. It’s not a big deal.”

“Is it him?”

Jack shrugged. “He owns a lot of property and he’s refused to say one word since we took him into custody,” he said. “He could be doing that because he’s guilty … or he could be doing that because he doesn’t trust law enforcement and I knocked the wind out of him when I tackled him.”

“At least you’re okay,” Ivy said. “I … .” She broke off, her attention shifting to another news reporter conducting an interview with Marcia Simpson.

“I think it’s a real travesty,” Marcia said. “Shadow Lake used to be a safe place to live and now look at it. There’s a monster in our midst. I’m starting a concerned citizens group and we’re going to make sure nothing like this ever happens again. We’re going to keep the streets of Shadow Lake safe. We’re going to protect Shadow Lake’s children from monsters!”

“And I’m going to help,” Maisie said, popping up behind Marcia. “Shadow Lake is my home and I will protect it with every fiber of my being.”

“I think I’m going to throw up,” Ivy grumbled.

“Well, don’t do that,” Jack said. “I promised you lunch. Let’s go to the diner. We can catch up there. The lunch rush is over so it shouldn’t be busy.”

“Are you still buying?”

“Yup.”

“Then I’m getting pie, too,” Ivy said, flashing a genuine grin. “Let’s go.”

“
I
don’t like
all of these news people being in my town,” Brian announced, sitting across from Jack and Ivy and glancing at the waitress taking their lunch orders. “I’ll have my usual, Shirley.”

“Coming right up.”

Jack waited for Shirley to leave before responding. “I don’t like it either, but there’s nothing we can do about it,” he said. “We need to make sure the hospital is diligent about people getting in. The last thing we need is some reporter ambushing Jessica.”

“She’s going home tomorrow,” Ivy said. “Maybe we should move the timetable up and slip her out through the back door after dark tonight.”

“That’s an idea,” Brian said, rubbing his chin. “I would prefer her staying in the hospital another day to make sure she’s healthy before leaving, though. I know her parents want to take her home and try to reintroduce her to her life, but Dr. Nesbitt says he’d be more comfortable keeping her tonight and watching her tomorrow.”

“We can sneak her out the back door tomorrow if it’s a problem,” Jack said. “I agree with Brian, though. She should stay in the hospital. She’s extremely thin and they’re pumping her full of stuff she needs to get better.”

“She’s … agitated, though,” Ivy said. “I think all of the attention is getting to her. If we give her time alone with her parents she might be able to relax.”

“Not if the press knows she’s left the hospital and camps out in front of the house,” Jack pointed out.

Ivy’s mouth dropped open. “They can’t do that.”

“As long as they don’t trespass on the Stamper’s property, they can do whatever they want,” Jack countered. “Listen, honey, I know you’re upset and those protective instincts of yours are on the rampage, but honestly the best place for Jessica right now is that hospital. We can control that building.”

“He’s right, Ivy,” Brian said. “She’s better off there right now.”

“Fine.” Ivy blew out a frustrated sigh. “What’s going on with Dan? Is he talking?”

“He’s refusing to talk,” Brian replied. “He just sits in the interrogation room staring at the wall. I don’t see how he thinks that’s going to help his case, but I’ve decided to let him sit there and stew.”

“So what happens next?” Ivy asked.

“Next we eat lunch – and I make sure you get your pie,” Jack said, poking her ribs. “Then we go back out to Dorsey’s house and search his property.”

“It’s a big parcel of land,” Brian said. “It could take some time.”

“I guess that means I’m relegated to staying in town,” Ivy lamented. “I’ll probably go home and check on Dad. This is a busy time at the nursery and I kind of stuck him with all the work.”

Jack shifted on the booth seat. “Actually, I was hoping you would go out to Dorsey’s house with us.”

“You said I couldn’t,” Ivy protested.

“I said you couldn’t go out there before we had him in custody,” Jack clarified. “We have him now. It’s safe for you to go out there.”

“Why do you want Ivy out there?” Brian asked, genuinely curious. “That seems like the exact opposite of what you wanted a few hours ago.”

“Maybe I listened to what you said in the car,” Jack said.

“What did you say?” Ivy asked, shifting her expressive eyes to Brian. “I need to know so I can pull it out next time we argue.”

Brian chuckled. “I just told him he was a woman where you’re concerned,” he said. “I’m not sure how that turned into him letting you have your own way, though.”

“Not
that
,” Jack said, making a face. “I am not a woman, by the way. I don’t care what you say. I’m talking about the part where you said Ivy was perfect the way she is and how changing her was out of the question.”

“You wanted to change me?” Ivy’s eyes flashed briefly with hurt.

“No,” Jack said, rubbing her cheek. “I don’t ever want to change you. That’s the point. I don’t like you being in danger, but you’re a part of this and keeping you away from Dorsey’s house seems unnecessary. You might … feel … something we don’t.”

“Like what?” Brian asked.

Jack shrugged. “She’s intuitive and has great instincts,” he said. “There’s no reason she can’t go out there with us.”

“I don’t have a problem with her going with us,” Brian said. “I’m just surprised you’re being such a marshmallow.”

Ivy snickered, the memory of her conversation with Jessica popping into her head.

“What was that laugh?” Jack asked.

“Nothing,” Ivy said, shaking her head. “It’s just something I remembered.”

“About me being a marshmallow?”

“Maybe.”

“Oh, I’m going to marshmallow your cute little behind off later,” Jack said. “You have no idea.”

“I’m looking forward to it,” Ivy said. “Now, where is my pie?”

“
T
HIS PLACE
is pretty rundown
,” Ivy said an hour later, glancing up as Jack extended his arm to make sure she didn’t trip over the fallen branch she stepped over. “I can walk. You know that, right?”

“It was instinct,” Jack said, rolling his eyes.

“That’s because he’s a marshmallow and wants to cushion your fall with his … marshmallow stuff,” Brian said, his eyes twinkling.

“I think he’s a cute marshmallow,” Ivy said.

“Handsome,” Jack corrected. “I’m a handsome marshmallow.”

“You two make me tired,” Brian said, climbing the steps to the house. “I guess we should start inside.”

“Jessica says she wasn’t kept inside the house, though,” Ivy said, glancing around. “Where is the root cellar?”

“I guess it would be this way,” Brian said, leaving the front door untouched and following the path that led around the side of the house. “I … um … here it is.” He leaned over and grasped a rusty handle, exchanging a quick look with Jack before pulling.

When Ivy glanced over her shoulder she found Jack holding his gun in the ready position. “What are you doing?”

“Just being careful, honey,” Jack said, using his free hand to push Ivy behind him. “Odds are no one else is out here. We don’t want to be caught unaware in case that’s not the truth, though.”

Brian struggled with opening the hatch, and when he did he took a step back. The sun was high in the sky and Jack and Brian used the bright light to scan the dank space below.

“It’s empty,” Jack said, holstering his gun. “I’ll go down first.”

Brian nodded, watching as his lanky partner hopped through the opening and disappeared from sight. Ivy moved up to the edge of the cellar and strained her eyes as she tried to ascertain what – if anything – was down there.

“Jack?”

“I’m here,” Jack said, appearing in the center of the hole. “This place is empty. Jessica wasn’t held here.”

“Jessica said she was in a cellar for years and then moved to the bunker,” Ivy said. “She had no concept of time while she was being held. I want to see it.”

“It’s dirty,” Jack argued.

“So is your mind,” Ivy shot back. “I want to see.”

“You’re in a skirt,” Jack said, refusing to give up and acquiesce to her demand.

“Fine,” Ivy muttered, moving to the lip of the hatch. “I’ll climb down myself. Get out of the way.”

“Ugh, you’re such a pain, woman,” Jack muttered, extending his arms. “Come on. I’ll catch you.”

Ivy hopped down, landing softly thanks to Jack’s strong arms. She took a moment to exchange a challenging look with him before glancing around the cellar. Jack was right. It was completely empty.

“There’s nothing here.” Ivy was frustrated as she paced the small area. “I mean … nothing.”

“I’m pretty sure that’s what I told you,” Jack said. “You just had to look for yourself, though.”

“She’s stubborn,” Brian said, smirking through the opening. “You might find it annoying at times – especially when she’s fighting with you – but when she’s fighting for you I’m going to wager you like that stubborn streak of hers.”

Jack grinned. “Don’t kid yourself,” he said. “I like her stubborn streak when she’s fighting with me, too.”

“You two are officially sick.”

“I don’t get it,” Ivy said, her hands landing on her narrow hips. “If Jessica was kept down here, shouldn’t there be some sort of evidence? I mean … he couldn’t get rid of everything, could he?”

Jack shrugged. “It depends on what he had down here,” he said. “If it was just a blanket and a bucket or something, that wouldn’t be hard for him to clean up. The truth is, we haven’t questioned Jessica very extensively about her living conditions because we didn’t want to traumatize her.”

“This still doesn’t feel right,” Ivy said.

“Well, there’s a lot more area to cover,” Jack said. “We could be barking up the wrong tree, or we could find what we’re looking for.”

“Why would Dan run if he wasn’t hiding something?” Ivy pressed.

“Maybe he is hiding something,” Brian suggested, reaching through the opening as Jack lifted Ivy up. “Maybe he’s just hiding something we’re not technically looking for.”

“
T
HIS
place freaks me out
,” Ivy said an hour later, staring at the mounted deer head on the wall and involuntarily shuddering. “How can you live with that in your house? It’s … creepy.”

“It’s not my cup of decorating tea, but Dorsey is hardly the only man who likes to crow about his hunting prowess,” Jack said. “We wake up with that hellion you call a cat staring at us every morning. Do you think that’s less creepy?”

“Nicodemus is alive,” Ivy argued. “He’s also very sweet. I love him.”

“He tries to smother me when you’re not around,” Jack said. “I’m not joking. If you get up to go to the bathroom in the middle of the night he tries to climb on my face.”

Brian chuckled. “Oh, you two should have your own reality show.”

“He’s not trying to smother you,” Ivy argued. “He’s trying to cuddle.”

“When he cuddles with you he rests his face on your chest and is cute,” Jack said. “If I touch you when you’re petting him he growls. When you’re not around he swats and hisses at me. He’s mean.”

“He’s not mean. I … won’t ever get rid of that cat, Jack.” Ivy’s expression was stern – and worried. “I believe in keeping your animals and taking care of them. He won’t ever leave me. That’s his home.”

“Hey, I was joking,” Jack said, holding his hands up. “I swear I don’t have any hard feelings about that cat. I find him funny. I wouldn’t expect you to give up that cat.”

“Are you sure?”

“I’m sure,” Jack said. “I happen to be an animal lover. Nicodemus and I are just going through growing pains because we both want to be the most important person in your life.”

“You can share the spotlight,” Ivy said, although she gave Jack’s hand a heartfelt squeeze. “I’m sorry I yelled at you.”

“Oh, honey, I’ve heard you yell,” Jack said. “That was nowhere near close to how you usually sound when you’re yelling.”

“You guys are on a teeter-totter or something,” Brian said, looking up from the mail he searched. “One of you is up and then the other is down. Neither one of you lets the other crash to the ground. It’s kind of cute … and really annoying.”

“Leave her alone,” Jack chided. “She’s tired and it’s been a long day. I’m going to take her home and put her in the bathtub after this. Then we’re going to pass out for ten hours.”

“I hate to say it, but I don’t think there’s anything here,” Brian said, dropping the envelopes on the desk. “This place seems clean. Yeah, there’s more guns than there should be – and I’m pretty sure some of those heavy clips I saw in the other room are illegal – but I don’t think Jessica was ever here.”

“We know she wasn’t in the house,” Ivy said. “Maybe we should look around outside.”

“It’s getting dark,” Jack said. “We don’t have time for that. We’ll have to get a full team from the state police out here tomorrow.”

“Please,” Ivy begged, turning her pleading eyes on Jack. “Just … five minutes. I have to see for myself.”

“Okay.” Jack immediately gave in. “You have to hold my hand and promise not to wander away, though.”

“And Jack is up high on the teeter-totter,” Brian muttered.

“Deal,” Ivy said, extending her hand. “You still have to massage me when we get home, though.”

“And Ivy takes the dominant position,” Brian said, chuckling as Jack cuffed the back of his head.

It didn’t take the trio long to search the area immediately surrounding the cabin. The woods were too thick to venture into, and after a few minutes Ivy was ready to admit defeat. That’s when a dark swatch of fabric on a nearby bush caught her attention.

“Do you see that?”

Jack followed her finger with his eyes and nodded. “I do,” he said. “Stay close.” Jack moved toward the fabric, applying plastic gloves before touching it. After testing it for a moment, he flipped it over and frowned. “Bellaire Middle School. It looks pretty old and ragged. I think it’s been out here for some time. I don’t think this is evidence we care about.”

Ivy felt differently and shifted her eyes to Brian. “Do you know what that is?”

Brian nodded. “Yup.”

“Does someone want to tell me what it is?” Jack asked.

“The kids in Alden don’t have their own school,” Brian supplied. “They’re bussed to Bellaire – and sometimes Mancelona – and they attend school there. Jessica attended Bellaire Middle School when she went missing.”

“Oh.” Jack turned to Ivy. “I guess your intuition was right after all. I told you.”

“I told you,” Ivy shot back.

“I’m telling both of you to shut up,” Brian charged. “We need to get this to the lab. I don’t know if they can ascertain who it belongs to, but … it’s a start.”

“It is,” Jack agreed. “I’m just worried where it’s all going to end.”