Suffer II (5 page)

Tyler’s heart was pounding in his chest when he noticed the black SUV in front of Karla’s house. He gripped the steering wheel and tried to calm down before he made his way to her front door. He knew nothing about the woman who was replacing him as Karla’s escort to the sheriff’s office.

Karla called him late Sunday afternoon and told him that he didn’t need to show up for their Monday morning ritual. When he asked questions about the stranger staying in her home, Karla wouldn’t give him a direct answer. She kept repeating that she was a friend from Miami who was there to help her and give him a break. The answers weren’t good enough for Tyler.

“Well, good morning,” said Karla, greeting him at the door. “She said you’d be coming. I didn’t believe her, but here you are.”

“What’s going on?” asked Tyler. “Who is she? What does she want?”

“To find Emily,” said Kate, coming out of the kitchen with two cups of coffee. “You take yours black with sugar, right?”

Tyler watched the stranger place the coffees on the table as if she had been living there for years. Karla took a few steps to the side and sat in her chair. As she settled, the stranger walked towards him.

“My name is Kate Freeman,” she said, extending her hand.

“I guess you already know who I am,” said Tyler, accepting her handshake.

“I do,” said Kate, taking a seat on the couch. “You’re Karla’s rock. Please sit down. I know you must have some questions for me.”

Grey put his ear closer to the crack in the door. He insisted that he be there when Tyler came to the house. Kate conceded, but didn’t want him to make his presence known. Concealed in Emily’s room, he could hear the conversation with ease.

“I run a support group for families of missing persons and victims of violent crimes. Ms. Karla reached out to us some time ago needing help. We decided the best place to give that help was here in Boudreaux.”

“We?” asked Tyler.

“Yes,” said Kate. “My team is made up of former FBI agents and police officers. It allows us to investigate at a higher level with fewer constraints and red tape. We don’t have to follow rules of jurisdiction.”

“Wait, investigate?” asked Tyler. “I thought you said you run a support group?”

“That’s how we give our support” said Kate. “But we’re still going to need your help. Can we count on you for that?”

“I’m not very comfortable with this,” said Tyler, looking over at Karla. “We don’t know anything about these people. What if she’s a reporter just trying to dig up dirt about Emily. God knows she’s been through enough of that crap, and so have you.”

“She’s not a reporter, Tyler,” said Karla. “I know her and I trust her. So should you. They’re going to help us find Emily and anyone responsible for her disappearance.”

“We don’t know if anyone other than Emily is responsible for that, Ms. Karla,” said Tyler, standing. “I’m sorry, I can’t do this right now. They’re going to get you all worked up and you’re going to end up in the hospital. I can’t be a part of that. We’ve been through too much already.”

“Tyler, sweetie, please sit down and talk to her,” said Karla. “Do it for Emily. She needs all of us right now.”

“Everything I’ve done has been for you and Emily,” said Tyler, through gritted teeth. “You’re the only family I have left, but you’re willing to let this stranger pull us apart. This one is on you, Ms. Karla.”

“Tyler,” said Karla, trying to stand as he was walking out.

“It’s okay,” said Kate. “Let him go.”

“Oh, no,” said Karla, falling back into her chair. “That was horrible. He’s been so good to me.”

“You know why we had to do that,” said Kate, coming to her and kneeling beside her chair. “We needed to see his reaction to an outsider coming in and shaking up his world.”

“I still don’t understand,” said Karla. “He’s done so much to help find her. How could he be involved in any way?”

“Because Emily told us,” said Grey, coming around the corner and taking a seat on the couch. “Tyler was in love with her.”

“Are you ready to hear all of this?” asked Kate.

“Yes,” said Karla. “I’m ready now. I have to face the truth about what I did. What we all did to her.”

Kate moved to the couch and sat beside Grey. He had finished reading the journals Emily had started when she was twelve. Karla knew the information inside would bring back a terrible time in her life that she had tried to forget. Emily started speaking through Grey.

“After Tyler and Dawson’s mother died, they spent most of their time with you and your family. Dawson was having a tough time understanding why his father had beat him. Tyler felt vulnerable and looked for stability with you and Hank. I don’t think the boy’s father ever hit them again, but he certainly never got sober.”

“He still isn’t,” said Karla. “Losing his wife was too much for him. She died so young. It was awful, I tell you. Just awful. And then to lose my Hank right after. It was all just too much to bear.”

“When Emily was sixteen, Tyler started showing more affection towards her. She did her best to let him down easy, but he kept trying to win her over. What Tyler didn’t realize is that Emily was in love with Dawson.”

“My goodness,” said Karla. “How did I not know that? Those boys practically lived here through high school.”

“Probably because Dawson didn’t show the same feelings towards her. But they did have sex at the end of summer before her senior year. It was a week before Dawson accepted the job in North Dakota and left Boudreaux for good. They planned a night of saying goodbye, and things developed from there. I don’t think either one of them planned for it to happen, but I do believe they cared about each other deeply.

“A few weeks after Dawson left, Emily wrote that Tyler had become more aggressive with her. One night when she was in his car, she had to push him off of her before she could get out. She was pissed and ended up walking three miles to get home. Looking at the timeline of her journal, she didn’t speak to him, or about him, for two months. Then out of the blue, she wrote that they had a long talk and everything was fine between them. The last sentence in her journal was that he was picking her up to take her to a party at Brittany Greene’s house. Not another word was written after.”

“You certainly get to the point, don’t you?” said Karla, faking a smile.

“I’m sorry,” said Grey. “I’m not trying to be insensitive, even though it seems to be a gift of mine. I do believe these are important details and will give us a better understanding of what was going on in her life before it changed.”

“You must think I’m an awful person,” said Karla. “She must have written about my condition after Hank died. I made so many mistakes, and I’m afraid those mistakes caused all of this to happen.”

“Ms. Karla,” said Grey, getting her attention. “I believe Emily was betrayed by the people closest to her, but that doesn’t include you. She loved you very much and understood everything that you were going through. More importantly, she knew how much you loved her. Pages and pages were written about both of you and how lucky she was to have such amazing parents.”

“She was more like her father than me,” said Karla, speaking through tears. “She could handle anything. She was tough, smart, and kind, just like Hank. She was able to deal with his death better than I could. She became the strength of this family while I lay on the couch depressed and overmedicated. I should’ve been there for her, not the other way around.”

“We’re not here to judge you, Ms. Karla,” said Kate. “We’re here to help you find your daughter. With all that we know, neither one of us believe for a second you’re the reason for any of this. We believe a series of events were set into motion that you couldn’t have stopped under any circumstance.”

“And you think Tyler had something to do with it?” asked Karla.

“We do,” said Grey. “We just don’t know at what level yet.”

“He was going to have one of two reactions to me being here,” said Kate. “If there was no involvement on his part, he would’ve welcomed my help. He would’ve welcomed anyone’s help with finding Emily and giving you some sense of closure.”

“He didn’t,” said Grey. “He immediately became defensive and turned his frustration towards you. You’ve both spent the last three months trying to get anyone to listen to your claims that something bad has happened to her. The moment somebody did, he shut down.”

“I’ll sacrifice everything to find my baby,” said Karla, “but that boy is truly the only one I have left in this world. Knowing he had something to do with all of this is just too much.”

“You have us now,” said Kate. “And more of us will be coming. You are not alone in this, and you never will be. We’re always going to tell you the truth, and we’ll always be here for you. You need to understand that before moving forward.”

“I believe you,” said Karla, giving a genuine smile. “Like I said, I’m ready for whatever happens.”

“I’m glad to hear you say that,” said Kate, “because more is going happen today. Grey and I will be on the front porch while you finish getting ready. I have a feeling the sheriff will be expecting us.”

Evan and Abby were glued to a computer screen in Miami while Grey and Kate made their way to Karla’s front porch. It was the first time the team was using a program that gave them access to any cellular phone provider’s database in real-time. It was one of many intelligence gathering systems Kate’s company had obtained through back door channels. She spared no expense.

Carlos provided the connections for the equipment and software that mirrored the same systems used by the FBI. Kate provided the cash. The price tag for the physical equipment was a fraction of the cost of the ability to access the data undetected. When the numbers dialed from Tyler’s phone appeared on the screen in Miami, they sent a text message to Grey’s phone in Boudreaux.

“How did you know?” asked Grey, looking at his screen. “Seriously, how did you know Tyler would call the sheriff as soon as he left?”

“It was a hunch,” said Kate, beaming a smile. “I told you. My job was to have the gut feelings and your job is to prove me right.”

“Or wrong, if I remember correctly,” said Grey.

“Was I wrong?”

“Anyway, he also called Brittany Greene.”

“I was kind of right about that one too,” said Kate, holding her smile.

“We both got that one right, but the sheriff was all you,” said Grey. “That one I didn’t see coming. He’s been avoiding both of them like the plague.”

“My gut tells me it has less to do with the sheriff and more to do with Tyler,” said Kate. “He looks at it as a show of good faith to law enforcement. He knows the sheriff would’ve been blindsided by me showing up with Karla today instead of him. Now the sheriff has time to find out who I am. With that one phone call, he just showed the others that he’s playing ball.”

“Other than Brittany, is your gut telling you about anyone else that may be involved?”

“I have no idea, but I do believe that this is just the tip of the iceberg.”

It started like any other day of the year for Dawson. He awoke at six-thirty to make sure his brother made it to the bus stop on time. He then tip-toed around his dad who was passed out in his recliner, reeking of booze. He’d pick up the bottles lying beside him and clean the kitchen before leaving on his bike for the two-mile ride to school. He didn’t like taking the bus that was full of other teenagers.

His dad had not laid another a hand on him since that first time, but he never climbed out of the bottle. Hank tried several times to get Barry some help for his excessive drinking. He stopped trying after a year when he realized that Barry didn’t want help.

Dawson wasn’t considered social at school, but he had the attention of several girls. The more he ignored them, the harder they worked for his attention. He didn’t participate in school sports, but because of his height and build, many of the coaches encouraged him to play.

He was distant and aloof at school, but started interacting and spending more time with Hank and Emily. They gave him the time and space to deal with his mother’s death on his own terms. They were supportive when he needed them and understanding when he didn’t. His connection with Emily was emotional. His connection with Hank was mechanical.

They both had an affinity for old trucks. Hank found a 1974 Ford F-100 rusting in a neighbor’s barn. Two hundred dollars and a tow later, it was sitting in Hank’s garage. From the first day, he didn’t have to ask Dawson for help bringing it back to life. The boy just showed up after school and rolled up his sleeves. Hank enjoyed his company. Dawson enjoyed the distraction.

They worked on it together for four months. Other than having a few rust spots, the body was in great condition. The engine and interior were different stories. Most of the parts had been cannibalized, and the broken windows allowed the elements to take over the cab. The tires were bald, and most of the wiring had disintegrated. On the day the engine roared back to life, so did Dawson.

He was disappointed when Hank told him he found a buyer for the restored truck. Not because the truck was gone and their work was finished, but because he didn’t get to see it after it was sent to the body shop. The only two things he and Hank couldn’t do in the garage were metalwork and painting.

The disappointment was short lived when Hank told him that he found another project and it would arrive later that day. There was more speed in his legs as he pedaled towards Hank’s garage after school. Dawson was surprised to find him home early from work.

“Hey, buddy,” said Hank, washing his hands in the kitchen sink.

“Well?”

“Well, what?”

“Oh, come on, Mr. Hank, you’re killing me,” said Dawson, leaning against the wall. “Where is it?”

“Where’s what, boy?”

“Stop it, Hank,” said Karla, walking into the room. “Just tell him and get it over with.”

“Get what over with?” asked Dawson, standing up straight.

“Oh, man, she was a beauty,” said Hank, drying his hands. “A ‘68 Chevy C-10. She was in great condition, and the engine was in pretty good shape too. We would’ve had that thing running like it just came off the assembly line.”

“Had?”

“I’m afraid so, son. I went to pick it up, and the old man just couldn’t part ways with it. I’m sorry I got your hopes up.”

“Aw, that’s okay, Mr. Hank,” said Dawson, slumping down into a chair. “We’ll find another one. I was just kind of excited about seeing it because it’s my…”

“It’s your what?” said Hank, cocking his head.

“Is Emily home?”

“Yep, she’s on the patio doing homework, I think.”

“We’re eating dinner early, so don’t stray too far,” said Karla. “We’re having fried chicken.”

“You know that’s my favorite, Ms. Karla,” said Dawson, standing and then walking over to give her a hug. “You just made my day much better.”

He left Karla and Hank in the kitchen and made his way to the patio. Emily looked up with a wide smile as he came through the door. Seeing him always made her day much better.

“Where’s Tyler?” asked Dawson, taking a seat beside her.

“He’s in the playhouse making out with Brittany,” said Emily, winking.

“No way,” said Tyler, pressing himself up from the chair.

“I’m just messing with you,” said Emily. “I mean they are up there, but they’re working on a project. We’re supposed to leave them alone until they finish.”

“That wasn’t funny.”

“What’s the big deal if they were making out?”

“Because he’s fourteen, this isn’t his house, and he’s stupid,” said Dawson. “If Hank knew he was trying to pull something with a girl in his backyard, he’d tear him a new one. Your parents have been really good to us, and I don’t want to screw that up.”

“Even if he was kissing a girl up there, my dad would never turn you two away,” said Emily, calming him down.  “He likes having y’all around.”

“Good, because going to my house sucks.”

“He knows that,” said Emily. “Did he tell you about the truck?”

“He did. That kinda sucks too. I was looking forward to it. I really like working with your dad. He’s about the only adult who doesn’t treat me like I’m broken.”

“What does that mean?”

“You know,” said Dawson, looking away from Emily. “Because my mom died and my dad is a drunk. It’s like every time I see an adult they’re telling me how sorry they are for me and how horrible it must be not having a mother. Some even ask me if my dad’s feeling better, like he has a cold or something. They all know.”

“Do I treat you like you’re broken?” asked Emily.

“No, you don’t,” said Dawson, shaking his head. “A lot of kids at school do, but you don’t. It’s why I like hanging out with a pipsqueak like you instead of them. You don’t treat me any different. Besides, you’re a lot smarter than them. You don’t talk my ear off about boys, TV shows, or skincare products.”

“Pipsqueak,” said Emily, sitting up straight. “You’re only two years older than me, jerk.”

“Okay, you’re not a pipsqueak anymore,” said Dawson, laughing. “You’re more like a chubby buddy.”

His new nickname earned him a punch in the arm. They both knew Emily was far from chubby. In the four years since they met, she had grown into a beautiful young lady. As Dawson was getting attention from several girls, Emily was getting attention from all the boys.

They talked and laughed for thirty minutes as Tyler and Brittany finished their secret project. Talking and laughing was something that didn’t happen often with Dawson. He enjoyed his time and conversations with Emily. The subject changed when his brother and Brittany joined them. When Tyler got to the table, Dawson stood, grabbed his brother’s ears, and inspected his face.

“Good,” said Dawson, looking at Brittany. “No lipstick.”

“Please,” said Brittany, “In his dreams.”

“Oh, I’m sure of that,” said Dawson. “I hear him whispering your name and making kissing sounds in his sleep.”

“You’re such a dick,” said Tyler, pushing his laughing brother.

“Watch your mouth, kid,” said Dawson, pushing him back much harder, but holding his smile.

“You two cut it out,” said Karla, coming to the back door. “Dawson, Hank needs you in the garage.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

Walking into the garage, he saw Hank standing in the empty space holding the door opener. He gave Dawson a Cheshire cat grin and pressed the button. When it stopped rising, Dawson’s jaw dropped.

“Is that our truck?” asked Dawson.

“Kind of,” said Hank. “I don’t own it anymore. You’ve got to check out the inside of it.”

“This is the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen,” said Dawson, taking his time with each step as he moved closer to the truck in the driveway.

There were no flaws in the candy apple red paint with a jet black stripe down each side. Sunlight was beaming off the chrome handles and trim. Dawson knelt to get a closer look at the new tires wrapped around alloy rims.

He rose to look inside the cab, but didn’t open the door. He didn’t want to put his fingerprints on another man’s truck. From where he was standing, he could see the entire dashboard had been replaced and that all the instruments were new, but were made to look like the original parts. He took a few steps back to bring the entire truck into his field of vision. He didn’t notice everyone had come outside to join them.

“This is amazing,” said Dawson. “This guy really went all out.”

“He did,” said Hank. “You can tell he cares about her.”

“That paint job just pulled it all together, didn’t it?” said Dawson. “I appreciate you bringing it over here so I could see it one more time, Mr. Hank.”

“I knew you wanted to have a peek before she was gone forever,” said Hank, reaching in his pocket for the keys. “All right, that’s enough eyeballing. I need to get it back to the shop before it closes.”

“Hank Pierce!” said Karla, stomping her foot.

“Okay, baby, okay,” said Hank, widening his grin.

Suddenly Dawson noticed everyone standing in a line on the lawn with the same wide grins. The only exception was Karla, who was covering her mouth with her hand. He could see that she was crying. A strange tingle formed in his stomach as he turned back to Hank.

“Happy Birthday, son.”

Instincts took over as the keys arched in the air towards him. His fist closed around them when they hit his hand. The tingle turned into fireworks.

“What?” said Dawson, grabbing his stomach with his free hand.

“It’s not our truck anymore,” said Hank. “It’s yours.”

“Mr. Hank, you mess with me all the time,” said Dawson, feeling his legs tremble. “I know this isn’t my truck. It can’t be.”

Karla couldn’t contain herself anymore and came bouncing across the driveway. Her face was red after the release of tension of having to hold a secret for months. He had never felt a hug so tight.

“It’s always been yours, sweetie,” said Karla. “Since the first day you two started working on it. Hank came to bed that night and asked me when your sixteenth birthday was. He didn’t say anything after, but I knew right then it was yours. I had to pray every night that God would give me the strength to keep my mouth shut.”

“No, no,” said Dawson. “This is too much. I can’t take anything from you.”

“Nonsense,” said Hank, moving closer. “You’re not taking from us. You worked your tail off bringing this old girl back to life. Do you realize I didn’t have to ask you one time for help? Not one time. That’s being a man. I’m not giving you this truck; you earned it.”

“That’s not what I mean, Mr. Hank,” said Dawson, losing his fight to hold back tears. “You and Ms. Karla took us into your home when ours stopped being one. You do everything for us. You feed us, take care of us, make sure we have what we need, make sure we stay out of trouble. You do everything. You’ve never asked us for nothing. I can’t take this from you. I owe you.”

Karla stepped to the side as her husband reached out and took Dawson by the shoulders. Hank was losing his fight to hold back tears as well. The last time he had cried was the first time he held Emily in his arms.

“You have no idea, do you, son?”

“About what?”

“How strong you are,” said Hank. “How proud I am of you and how much you mean to my family. You look out for everybody but yourself. You take care of your brother like a father should. You get him to school every day, and you do your best to take care of your dad. I know it’s hard for you when you’re over there. I know you miss your mom, and you’re hurting something terrible inside.

“In spite of all that, you wake up every morning and you do what needs to be done. You do it without asking anybody for help. We do what we do because we love you and Tyler. Do you hear me, boy? We love you. We love both of you like you’re ours.”

“I love you too, Mr. Hank.”

“The only thing you owe me is to live a long life and be happy. I have a strong suspicion that this old girl here is gonna make you happy, am I right?”

“Yes, sir, you are,” said Dawson, looking at his truck. “Do you think you and I can do this for Tyler and Emily when they turn sixteen?”

“You’re a better man at sixteen than most men I know,” said Hank, pulling Dawson in for a hug. “Yes, son. We’ll do the same for them.”