Under the Moon's Shadow (15 page)

“What’s the government’s interest in all this mess?” She was fairly confident of what his answer would be before he gave it. He gave a short laugh, and she felt her lips twitch in response.

“I can’t tell you that. I’m sorry.”

“You took a risk, showing me that badge. Why did you do that?”

“Pretty simple. You looked like you were ready to bolt, and I was afraid I’d be seeing a composite drawing of myself on the six o’clock news as a BOLO serial killer if I didn’t tell you who I was.”

Beth snorted. “Gee, thanks. Hysterical woman here, just show badge to diffuse breakdown.”

“I’d tell you more if I could, but right now it’s crucial that no one finds out about who I am. I need your word that you won’t mention this to anyone.”

“Not even Chase?”

“No, not even Chase.”

They both fell silent as their server cleared their empty plates. When she asked if they wanted anything else, Beth hesitated.

“Are we going to be here for a while?”

“We can be, if you’d like.”

“In that case…” She asked the young woman if the restaurant still served their signature hot chocolate. When the server assured her it did, she ordered one. An indulgent smile crossed Gordon’s face, and Beth pursed her lips. “I take it you’ve never had their hot chocolate.”

“No, cocoa isn’t my thing.”

Beth shook her head vigorously, her eyes wide. “It isn’t hot cocoa. It’s hot chocolate - entirely different concept. Thick, mousse-like dark chocolate, warm, topped with an airy layer of whipped cream, add a few drops of magic in, and you have a gourmet dessert. Maybe if you’re very nice to me, I’ll let you try a bite.”

Gordon’s grin was indulgent. “What is it with women and chocolate? My wife used to go completely insane for the stuff on a regular basis.”

She couldn’t hide her surprise. “It’s hormonal. So you’re married, then?”

He shook his head as he toyed with his glass, the first sign of nervous discomfort she had seen from him. “I was married. She died three years ago. I don’t usually talk about my marriage. I’m not sure why I mentioned that.”

“I have one of those faces, or so I’ve been told. I’m sorry for your loss.”

He accepted her condolences and returned the conversation to his revelation. “So do I have your word? You’ll keep what you’ve learned about me to yourself for a while?”

Beth nodded. “Until you tell me otherwise, I don’t see how keeping that quiet would hurt.”

His relief was palpable. “Tell me about these missing people. What all do you know about them?”

“Well, I know that they’re people who are less likely to be missed, or reported missing, than your average citizen. Jose Hernandez was apparently here illegally. Then there was an abandoned car on highway seven. Judging from the evidence left behind, the person or persons who left the car behind probably were illegal, as well. The other two who are missing are well-known drug addicts in Olman County.” She smiled as the server returned with the hot chocolate. Served in a large mug, there were two spoons on the side. After the girl left, Beth continued to speak as she eyed the dessert for an angle of attack.

“When I called the families, I got pretty much the same reaction. Well, from the addicts’ families, anyhow. It was sad, really.” She decided to start on one side of the cup, and raised her eyebrows. Gesturing with her spoon, she silently asked if he wanted to try the confection.

“Sure, why not?”

Picking up the second spoon, she loaded it down with a good-sized portion of the chocolate and whipped cream. She carefully passed it to him on one of the small bread plates and watched to see his reaction as he tasted it.

“Wow, that’s rich.” He finished it in two bites.

“Want more?” He shook his head. Her mood turning serious, she told him about the reactions she had gotten while researching the disappearances.

“Like I said, when I contacted the addicts’ families, no one was surprised they were missing, and I got the distinct impression that their absence was not entirely unwelcome. As a matter of fact, by the time I’d finished talking to those people, I was surprised they had even bothered to turn in missing persons reports.”

“It’s a sad fact of life that addicts’ families often turn their backs so completely.  It’s something a lot of them do to cope with the illness. And sometimes it’s a way of getting the addict to wake up – to help them hit bottom.”

Beth nodded. “I know, but it still sucks. Mr. Hernandez was a little trickier. I have a good relationship with a community advocate in Leroy who works with newly-arrived immigrants, no matter what their status is. I spoke with him, and what he told me was more than a little disturbing. Apparently, over the past few months, he’s had several people just vanish.”

“How many is several?” Gordon leaned forward and folded his arms on the table.

“Six, including the one in July. He’s heard rumors that a couple of them headed north for jobs, and he was going to make an effort to check for me, but that still leaves four who haven’t been seen or heard from. One disappeared the same day as Hernandez, two others on the eleventh of August, and the fourth on September fourth or thereabouts.”

Gordon gave a low whistle. “Six? Why weren’t missing persons reports filed on them?”

Beth shrugged. “Apparently, they’d packed up their belongings and headed out, from the look of things. No one was surprised or concerned. They were all itinerant workers, and even though they’re relatively stationary this time of year, at least in this part of the country, it isn’t unheard of for folks to just pack up and leave. When some time passed and no one heard from them, that’s when people started to worry and went to Juan.”

“You don’t think it’s a coincidence, do you?”

“No, and I don’t have a shred of proof that anything untoward happened to them either. Just a gut feeling.” The server brought them the check, and Gordon took it without allowing her to see it. She gave a token protest, but he just raised one black eyebrow and looked at her. Backing off, she relaxed into her chair.

“What do I do now? I’m at a little bit of a loss as to how to handle this information. Do I need to go to my editor? To the sheriff’s department? I can’t just sit on this.”

He put some cash in the receipt folder and stood. “Let’s walk, and see what we can figure out.”

They made their way through the crowd, and once they were outside, Beth saw that the rain had stopped, the sun peeking out through the clouds. The restaurant was located on the side of a small stream, and they walked around the building to the observation deck, which was deserted because of the rainy weather.  She stopped next to the railing and watched the water rushing by as she waited for Gordon to speak.

“As to your question of what to do, let me talk to a couple people before you go to anyone with this information, okay? I’d like to know what the pattern is that we’re dealing with before we bring anyone else in on this.” He saw her reluctance and held his hand up. “I’m only talking a day or so, not weeks. I should have something by Monday at the latest.”

“Okay. That’s not bad, then.” She closed her eyes for a moment, letting the sound of the water soothe her strained nerves.

“What else is bothering you?” he asked quietly.

“It’s complicated,” she replied, her laugh without humor. “It seems that I have attracted a stalker.” He was silent as he stared at her, obviously surprised. She shot him a rueful glance and tried to look as though the idea didn’t have her tied up in knots.

“Tell me everything.”

Swallowing, Beth dropped the unconcerned façade and started talking. When she told him about the pictures, she had to stop while he stalked to the end of the deck and stood for a moment, cursing in a low voice.

He turned and came back to where she stood. “Has the sheriff’s department been able to find anything?”

Beth shook her head. “Not that I’m aware of, and since my brother’s a deputy, I’d know if they did.”

“You know all the things you’re supposed to do in this type of situation, right? Change your habits, your routines, avoid situations where you could be an easy target?”

“Yes, and I’ve done that. I’ve also had a security system installed and changed the locks on my apartment door. I make sure I walk out with someone if I’m anywhere after dark. I’ve racked my brain to try and think of who it could be, and I can’t come up with anyone. Unfortunately, being a reporter, being a target is a risk I run. I can’t very well hide away from the public.” Checking her watch, she grimaced at the time. “I need to head out.”

“I don’t like the timing of this. Do you think the stalking is connected to all the missing people somehow?” he asked as they walked to her SUV.

She considered his words. “I don’t know. I hadn’t really thought about it, that the two might be connected. That would be reaching a little, don’t you think?” She unlocked the door and tossed her briefcase into the passenger seat.

“I don’t believe in coincidences.” 

Beth laughed softly, the sound tired. “I said that very thing to someone not long ago. I don’t know, Gordon. I suppose the two could be connected, but what would the motivation possibly be?” She glanced at her watch again. “I’m sorry, but I really have to run. Thanks for meeting with me today.”

“It was my pleasure. Call me if anything else happens, okay? Doesn’t matter what it is or when it is, if anything odd happens to you or around you, I want to hear about it.”

She reluctantly agreed. “You’ll call me as soon as you know something, right? About the dates and that pattern?” Holding the driver’s side door open, he kept his hands on the frame as she put her seat belt on.

“I promise you’ll be the first call I make.”  His green eyes were troubled. “Be careful and watch yourself, Beth. Don’t let down your guard.”

Promising him to be cautious, she closed the door and waved as she pulled out of the parking space.

~ * * * ~

Gordon watched her drive away before walking to his own car, and as he watched Beth pull out onto the highway, he grabbed his cell phone. When the call was answered, he spoke tersely.

“We have a big problem. When can we meet?”

Chapter Twenty

Sunday dinner was subdued at the Hudson farm. A car wreck Friday night had taken the life of a distant cousin’s ten-year-old son. Jackie Hudson was particularly close to the boy’s grandmother, and the entire family was devastated by the loss.

As she wiped down the kitchen counters, Beth couldn’t keep her thoughts away from the wreckage she had seen on Friday night. For once, the normal bickering and joking that went on when she and her brothers were together was absent, all their moods dampened by the sadness and the horror. They had turned the radio on for the noise, and as she passed by it, she turned the volume down a little.

Beth’s parents had spent the morning preparing dishes to take to the bereaved families. Beth, Chase, and Jason had helped pack it up, then stayed behind to do cleanup while Jackie and Richard delivered the food. As Beth returned to the kitchen from the utility room, Jason came in and sat down at the island bar. Chase followed, and she leaned against the counter, studying her brothers.

Chase was dark, taller, and lanky, quiet and a little brooding, whereas Jason was golden, a little shorter, and stockier, with an outgoing personality that drew people like flames, but it was readily apparent that the two were brothers. It struck her that they had both grown into handsome, successful men.

She broke the silence. “When will they get the tox screen back on Reese?” Reese Bolen had been driving one of the vehicles, and was the uncle of Taylor Bolen, the little boy who had died.

“Should be back any time now,” Jason said, “at least the basic stuff. Some of the drug screens will take a couple of weeks.”

“His alcohol was elevated, wasn’t it?” Chase asked.

“Yeah, but not like everyone expected it to be. He was under the legal limit. I still don’t understand why his parents let Taylor go with him that late at night. They had to be aware of the problems Reese had been having with substance abuse.”

“From what Mom said, Reese was pretty close to Taylor, and it wasn’t uncommon for them to spend time together,” Chase said. “I don’t know whether to hope Reese makes it or doesn’t. If he does survive, how in the world will he live with Taylor’s death?”

Beth shook her head. “I don’t know, but if he dies, Sammy and William might never know what happened that night. I don’t know which is worse - losing them both or not knowing.”

“I’d want to know,” Jason said quietly. “I think that would be the hardest thing, to lose someone and never know why.” He grimaced as he realized what he had said. “Chase, I’m sorry. I didn’t think.”

Chase laid his hand on Jason’s shoulder and let it rest there for a moment before he stood and moved to stand at the French doors that led onto the patio. “Not knowing why is one of the worst punishments I can think of.”

When he was in college, Chase’s girlfriend had been murdered. The case was still open, and her killer had never been caught. While he had moved on with his life for the most part, Beth knew her brother had never truly gotten over the loss. He stretched his arms above his head, a huge yawn escaping.

“I didn’t sleep very well last night, boys and girls. I think I’ll head home.”

Beth went to the refrigerator and pulled out the plate of food her mother had prepared for him. Grabbing a plastic bag, she tucked the plate inside, along with a small bag of cookies Jackie had set aside. He took the bag and hugged her, pressing a brief kiss to her forehead, then gave Jason a one-armed hug before he left.

Jason looked at her with a speaking glance. She waited until she heard Chase’s car start before she spoke.

“Think he’s okay?” She started gathering up her own bag of leftovers, tired and ready to head back to her apartment.

He came around to get a drink out of the refrigerator. “I think so. He’s tougher than he looks.” Eyes narrowed, she jabbed him in the ribs as he walked past her.