Find Me If You Dare (The Chronicles of Elizabeth Marshall Book 2) (21 page)

         
               Chapter Fifty-Five

“Come on Mom, pick up!” I yelled into my cell phone as we climbed into the SUV and sped towards the nearest freeway entrance. “Answer your phone!”

It wasn’t unusual for her not to answer right away. Technology was something my parents still struggled with. They had a cell phone but half the time my mother would forget about it and leave it in her purse in another room. I was about to disconnect and try the home phone when I heard a voice.

“Hello?”

I took a deep breath and fought to calm my raging emotions. I had to tread carefully. If my parents were both safe and unharmed for the moment, I didn’t want to alarm them.

“Hi Mom,” it took considerable effort on my part to make my voice sound casual and matter-of-fact, “I just wanted to call and check on you and dad. Are you both doing okay?”

“Oh were both doing fine. You’re dad’s back has been acting up a bit lately, though. He shouldn’t have shoveled the walk after that last snow storm
. He should have let the neighbor boy do it.”

I was so relieved to hear her voice, to hear the
normal, routine things in her life. I let out a breath I hadn’t realized I was holding. Sitting next to me, Logan was giving me signals. I nodded my understanding and focused on how to relay to my mother the importance on the situation without alarming her too much.

“I’m sorry to hear that. Listen Mom,” I paused and tried to gauge my tone the right way,
“I need you to do me a favor. I need you to make sure all your doors are locked, even the one going out into the garage. Don’t open you door for anyone, unless the person looks like a federal agent or a police officer. Even then, make them show you their badge.”

“I don’t understand,” the confusion was evident in her voice, “what are you saying?”

“Please, Mom, just do as I say. I’m on my way there. I’m coming from Salt Lake. I’ll be there as soon as I can. I’ll explain everything as soon as I get there. Now, are you locking your doors?”

“Caitly
n, honey, you know this is such a safe neighborhood. We hardly ever lock our doors, except at night or when we’re gone.”

I gritted my teeth and fought for patience. Now was not the time for my mother to get stubborn on me.

“I know your neighborhood is safe, but could you please just do this favor for me? It will make me feel much better.” I was almost pleading at this point.

“Well, if you insist.” I could hear her shuffling through the house in the background.
“Walter, lock the sliding glass door please. It’s Caitlyn. She’s on her way here. She’s asking us to lock all the doors. Well, I don’t know why.” She turned her attention back to me. “Honey, why are we locking the doors again?”

“I’ll be there soon and I’ll explain everything. Right now I just need to know that you’re both safe.”

Logan gave me another signal and I covered the phone for a moment to hear what he had to say.  He had his own cell phone to his ear.

“Hammond’s just pulling up to their house now. Tell them it’s safe to let him in.”

I felt a huge sense of relief to know that Logan’s partner, Detective Hammond, was already at my parent’s home. He had been on a protective detail for them before, even though they didn’t realize it.

“Mom, a Detective Hammond from the Riverview Police Department should be arriving at your house any minute. It’s okay to let him in.
He’ll stay there with you until I get there. Okay?”

The doorbell rang almost on queue.

“You’re starting to worry me, Caitlyn.” The fear was beginning to come into her voice. This was what I didn’t want. “What does this Detective Hammond look like?”

“He’s a big guy, looks like he could have been a pro line-backer. Is he there?” I asked.

“I’m supposed to have you show me your police badge,” I could hear my mother bravely request.

I could picture Don Hammond’s gruff smile as my petite mother stood her ground with him.

“You’ll be safe now until I get there.” I assured her.

After we hung up I held my phone to my chest for a moment, saying quietly to myself
. “Please let them be safe.”

           
             Chapter Fifty-Six

We were an odd group sitting there in my parent’s formal front room. Director Phillips was on his cell phone with Chief Brickman from the Riverview police, coordinating a perimeter around my parents’ house and neighborhood. If there was any possibility that Elizabeth was in the area, we were going to find her before she could harm my parents. Another security detail had been sent to my sister’s home in Bountiful just as a precaution.

Logan was bringing his partner, Detective Hammond, up to speed on the investigation. Madeline, after a brief introduction to my parents, had found a quiet corner in the room to charge her laptop and was quickly typing away.

It was left for me to explain the entire truth about Elizabeth, the girl they had known since her childhood, and why they might be in danger from her.

The entire way to my parents’ home, Madeline had kept me calm by
advising me on the best way to help my parents realize the seriousness of the situation without sending them into a full blown panic. I wasn’t sure I was doing such a good job if my father was any indication.

“Are you telling us that she’s threatening to kill your mother and me?” The full impact of what I was saying was starting to sink in. My father rose to his feet, his face flushed a ruddy pink, looking out the large picture window in the front room in concern.

“Only Indirectly, Dad,” I tried to calm him. He’d had a minor heart attack a few years back and I didn’t want to upset him too much. “It’s more of a precautionary measure. I’d rather err on the side of caution where you are both concerned. I’m sure it’s all going to end up being unnecessary, I’d just rather not take the risk.”

“I just can’t believe it,” my mother sat in a delicate chair in their always perfect front room, shaking her head, “we’ve known her for years. Are you really telling us that you think she did…
..” Her voice trailed off as she brought a hand up to her mouth in shock. “All those stories we’ve been hearing about on the news, all the talk about suspecting there’s a serial killer on the loose, you really think it’s your Lisbeth?”

My Lisbeth. How many times had she been around my family? How many times had my parents trusted me to be safe at her home?
Who wants to ever believe that someone they know, someone that they had in their home, ate at their kitchen table, would ever be capable of such things? No one ever wants to believe the nightmares and horror stories out there in the world will ever touch them here in their home. Everyone wants to believe they are safe, that murder and crime happens to other people. No one wants to be touched by the reality.

I was past thinking it was her
. I knew it was her.

“She’s a very strong suspect
.” Leave it to Logan to always be so diplomatic. “We’re doing our best to find her. We have numerous local and federal jurisdictions focused on this. Just until we have her in custody, though, we would appreciate it if you would allow us to provide you with some additional protection.”

Boy, he was good. Both my parents seemed calmed by the authority and trust in his voice.

“If you say so, Logan,” my father finally stopped pacing in front of the window and took a seat on the couch. So, they were on a first name basis? This was new to me. I might have been distracted by it if I didn’t have so much at stake at the moment. “I guess it wouldn’t hurt to see a few more patrol cars in the neighborhood. The neighbors might talk though.”

“We’ll try to be very discreet,” Logan offered with a slight smile. I could tell he respected my father and it was important that this be handled the right way. I was so grateful that he cared that much.

Just then, the phone rang in the kitchen. My mom stood to go answer it.

“No, mom, let me
get it,” I was on my feet and heading out of the room before I finished the words. Logan was right next to me. A knowing look passed between us as we reached the charger for the cordless phone.

“We haven’
t had time to set up a wiretap or anything yet. Check the caller ID first.” He said in a low voice.

With a
shaking hand I reached for the phone. I took a tight breath and looked at the caller ID. I didn’t get a chance to release my breath a hit the “talk” button before I was blasted.

“Hello?”

“Caitlyn, is that you? Why are you answering mother’s phone? I want to talk to her. Something is going on and I don’t like it. You’ve been involved in something these last few months, haven’t you? Why have you been leaving town so suddenly? Why were you conveniently out of town when Lewis was killed? And why do I have federal agents on my front door step?”   

                     Chapter Fifty-Seven

It took longer than I would have liked to calm Meghan down. I had to remind her that the additional stress wasn’t good for the baby before she finally took a deep breath and let me speak. She wasn’t as easy to pacify as my parents. She had always been a bit neurotic and prone to alarm. The very thought that she might be in any kind of danger, and additionally her unborn baby, was enough to nearly push her over the edge.

Thankfully, her husband was there to talk to the FBI agents and
help her see reason. I told her less about the situation than I did my parents. She’d find out all the details eventually, but there was no need to worry her additionally at this point.

After assuring her countless times that the federal agents were just a precaution and that yes, our parents were safe and sound and well protected also, she finally agreed to go lay down to rest and let her husband handle things for a while.

I sat the phone back down on the charger after hanging up and looked over at Logan, arms folded across his broad chest and leaning against my mother’s kitchen counter. I couldn’t help a laugh escaping my lips. He grinned back at me, allowing me to release the tension then looked at me with one eyebrow raised.

“I think we’re all starting to see ghosts around every corner,” I leaned against the opposite counter and braced my hands against the edge
, fighting to loosen the tight cords of muscle in my neck caused by all the recent stress. “Has there been any sign of her in the area yet?”

“No.” The simple word said enough. I knew they were trying hard. I knew all the local and federal authorities were combing through the area, searching for the small woman that so easily blended into any crowd. But still they hadn’t found her.

“Caitlyn, honey,” my mother stood at the doorway to the kitchen. She still had a look of concern on her face. I hated to be the cause of that concern, even if it wasn’t directly. “Was that your sister on the phone?”

“Yes, mom,” I smiled to again reassure her. We had already told my parents that similar precautions were being taken with Meghan and her husband. “The authorities are there with her now. She’ll be fine.”

“Thank heaven,” she let out a small shutter of relief. “You know how easily your sister gets upset. Maybe I should have spoken to her.”

“No, she’ll be fine. She’s resting now. You can call her later.” I walked over to put a comforting arm around her. She had my purse in one hand.

“Oh, I almost forgot,” she held the black purse up to me, “it was vibrating a moment ago. You might have missed a call.”

She walked back into the other room as I gave a curious to Logan.

“Caitlyn,” he cautioned as I opened it up and dug inside to find my phone.

“I know, I know, check the caller ID first.” I grumbled.  “I really am starting to hate this stupid thing. As soon as this whole nightmare is over, I swear I am completely going off the grid.”

I found the phone and turned it on, seeing that my mother was right. There was a symbol for a missed call. I pressed the button to look at the number.

“It’s just Dr. Ross,” I knew the number right away. “Just a missed call but no message left. I wonder if he’s all right. I hope there hasn’t been a setback.”

Madeline had appeared in the doorway, her concern for the doctor in her expression.

“I’d better call and see if everything is okay.” I moved my finger over the button to return the call when I stopped.
I looked over at Madeline.  She was trying to understand the silent question in my eyes. It took a moment to voice it. “Do you ever remember seeing Martin’s cell phone on or near him in the hospital?”

She shook her head in silent reply. Her mind was racing like mine.

“Did forensics take it in as evidence?” I looked back and forth from her to Logan.

“Let me check.” Madeline disappeared then was back in an instant, placing her laptop on my parents’ kitchen table. “They’re still putting the file together, but I have access to most of it. Here’s the list.”

She ran down the list of all the items taken from the crime scene for further investigation. Everything from hair, blood and fiber samples to the computer we had looked at earlier was now in custody. I stood behind her and read down the items. Nothing was mentioned about a cell phone.

I looked down at the innocent little electronic device in my hand. In one way, it was a lifeline, an instrument of amazing technology, but in another way, it almost
felt like a poisonous snake, reaching out to strike me. A part of me wanted to throw it across the room as hard as I could.

“I have to call it back. I have to.” The words were out of my mouth
before I knew it and were very determined. “I have to know if she has Martin’s phone. I have to talk to her.”

“Wait,” Madeline placed a cautionary hand on my wrist. “Before you do, I have an idea.”