Текст книги "She's Not There"
Автор книги: Marla Madison
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Текущая страница: 14 (всего у книги 23 страниц)
48
The following morning Teresa came into the kitchen to start the first pot of coffee. She scooped out the coffee, stewing about her daughter. Tina’s nightmares were probably normal under the circumstances, but Teresa worried about the girl. It had taken nearly an hour to get her back to sleep after the last one. Teresa couldn’t find the bear Jeff had given Tina, which had made matters worse. The girl loved it.
While the coffee did its thing, she looked around for the bear, stopping at the closed door to Eric’s office. Eric had warned her not to let Tina go inside, but you never knew with kids. Teresa entered the room, flicking on the overhead light.
She froze at the sight of the whiteboards spread out in a semi-circle in the middle of the room, photos of women’s faces heading them. Fifteen pairs of eyes stared at her. Teresa wanted to run but stopped in her tracks. “Madre de dios!” Locked in place, she crossed herself. The fourth woman from the left was Diane Jadzewski, a woman she used to work with. She scurried from the room, praying for Diane’s soul. She’d heard enough of their conversations to know—these women had all been murdered.
Jeff wandered into the kitchen, lured by the smell of the strong brew. Teresa stood at the stove, her arms tight about her abdomen. When she saw Jeff, she burst into a string of Spanish. He had no clue what she was saying, but knew by her hysterical speech, it wasn’t good.
“Slow down.” He took her shoulders and sat her down. “Tell me what’s wrong.”
She wrung her hands. “The pictures!”
“What pictures?”
She pointed to Eric’s office. “In there. I was looking for Tina’s bear.”
“Couldn’t you find the bear? Is that what’s wrong?”
“No, no! Not that. It’s Diane—she’s one of them!”
Jeff breathed a sigh of relief as Lisa walk into the kitchen. She’d do a much better job of handling Teresa. He told Lisa what had happened.
Teresa grew silent as Lisa explained to her that right now, they really had no idea what had happened to her friend. “We talked to her parents and they think Diane ran away because of her husband. She may be perfectly fine; we don’t know for certain what happened to any of those women.”
Teresa pressed a tissue to her face.
“Teresa,” Lisa said softly, “what can you tell us about her?”
“She was my boss. But nice person, we talked sometimes. About our men.”
“Did she tell you anything about her husband?”
Teresa sniffled into a balled-up Kleenex. “Yes. He hurts her. We talked about it sometimes. But last time I see her, she was happy. She met someone and was getting divorce.”
“Did she tell you anything about him?”
“No. Just that he very nice.”
Lisa’s hopes sank like a wet tea bag. “Anything you remember would help, Teresa. Did she say what he looked like?”
“Oh yes! I forget—she say he very handsome. Tall, big shoulders. Nice body.”
“Anything else she might have said about him? How he dressed? His car? Any tattoos? Glasses?”
Teresa hugged herself, tears rolling down her cheeks. “Nothing else.”
“Thank you, Teresa. You’ve been very helpful. We’re trying to find your friend. And all those other women. If you remember anything else, just let us know.”
Teresa sniffed, obviously relieved that the questioning was over, and went to give Tina her breakfast.
Lisa looked up. Jeff had left the room.
That night, filled with an anxiety that wouldn’t let her drift into sleep, Lisa got out of bed and walked into the living room of the small apartment. Was fear keeping her awake? Loneliness swept through her, and with it, Tyler’s face.
An excuse to call him popped into her mind—the flowers. She’d never acknowledged his gift. Forgetting there was good reason for her oversight, she opened her phone.
Tyler’s voice, thick with sleep, answered. “Hey.”
“It’s me,” she said. She heard the rustling of bedclothes. “Lisa.”
“Yeah.” His next response came lightning fast. “I miss you.”
“Me, too.” Her pride, what little remained, wouldn’t let her be the one to suggest they meet. And she couldn’t invite him to Eric’s, didn’t want him to know she wasn’t staying at her own house.
He stood waiting for her in the doorway when she pulled up at his house. They grabbed for each other the minute the door closed. His mouth met hers, hungry on lips opening to welcome him.
They made their way to his bedroom without breaking the embrace, leaving a trail of clothing in their wake. Every ounce of her being became one with him, every compartment of her brain closing off to everything but the thrilling sensation of his body melding with hers, her eagerness to feel him inside her.
Moving together with the sweet familiarity of longtime lovers, they made love with a passionate urgency. Her climax, when it came, left her with a peacefulness she’d been missing for weeks.
As she drifted off in his arms, she told herself it would only be for a minute. When she awoke and saw it was nearly 4:00 a.m., she leapt out of bed. Tyler didn’t wake up. Filled with a rush of guilt, she dressed hurriedly and ran out into the night, the dangers of being alone forgotten.
Lisa flinched at sound of the garage door opening, praying no one heard it. She opened the doorway leading to the apartment quietly, carefully disarming the alarm and resetting it behind her. She moved stealthily up to her quarters and opened the door.
Eric sat on the couch, a bottle of scotch on the coffee table in front of him. The room reeked of cigar smoke.
He stood, picking up the bottle, his dark eyes angry. “I was about to call the police before I saw your car was gone.”
She wanted to ask why he’d come up here looking for her, but thought better of it. “I’m sorry if I worried you.” Inadequate, but what could she say? She’d been lonely, horny? “I couldn’t sleep. I felt like I needed to get out, so I went for a drive.”
Eric moved toward her. When he spoke, he was close enough for her to smell the scotch on his breath. “A drive? Honey, I know what a booty trip looks like.” He snorted. “Or should I say—smells like.”
Unable to deny his words, Lisa’s face heated with embarrassment. “I said I’m sorry.” She sniffed the air and muttered, “Surprised you can smell anything.”
“You’re sorry. I worked late tonight because I spent the morning at Danielle’s funeral. You know, the woman who was murdered in place of you? But you must have forgotten that in your rush to see your young stud.”
“Eric, I know you must be hurting—”
He cut her off. “You don’t know shit! And don’t start throwing your psychology bullshit at me. All that therapy crap ever did for me was cost thousands of dollars and Kayla was still fucked up. It didn’t stop them from sucking up the money, though, even when it did nothing for her.”
When her tears came, Lisa had no idea why. For Eric, Danielle, Kayla, herself?
Eric’s face reddened in a burst of fury. “Oh, sure, cry now.” He turned from her, walking to the door.
Lisa grabbed his arm. “Please, let’s talk about this.”
He pulled away from her. “You disgust me,” he said, slamming the door behind him.
49
The number of people who straggled in for Thanksgiving dinner amazed Lisa. TJ’s sister, Janeen, turned out to be so unlike TJ, Lisa could hardly believe they were related. The cocoa-complexioned woman was soft spoken, her slightly plump body crowned by a head of short braids tipped with tiny red beads dangling about her smiling face when she talked.
The wonderful aroma of roasting turkey filled the kitchen as Janeen handed Lisa a casserole dish brimming with sweet potatoes topped with marshmallows, and another with her homemade cranberry relish. Her children, Lonnie, five, and Jazz, seven, carried in a large, cardboard box filled with games.
Tina hid behind her mother when she saw so many strangers but it wasn’t long until, lured by the stack of games, she joined the other two children on the floor in front of the fireplace.
Lisa was putting finishing touches on the centerpiece when Eric walked into the room. They’d been carefully avoiding each other all day. He broke the awkward silence by asking her about Paige.
“She finally called me back this morning. Her boyfriend made it home yesterday, and they were invited to another couple’s house for Thanksgiving dinner. She’s promised to come for Christmas.”
“I’m glad to hear it. Have you told her what you’re doing here?”
“No. I’m going to wait until I see her at Christmas.” Glad he’d broken the silence between them, Lisa was hoping to have a chance to talk to him alone, but knew it might not be possible with so many guests in the house.
The food was set out on the island buffet style, two large, golden turkeys proudly displayed, surrounded by all the traditional accompaniments.
When everyone was seated, their food steaming in front of them, Roland said grace. Charles sat next to him, fully recovered from the wounds of his attack.
The talk during the meal was spirited, none of it on the topic of missing women, abuse, or murder. Lisa had a passing, ironic thought how like a normal holiday gathering this scene would seem to an outside observer.
After the meal everyone able to stay headed for the living room to sit by the fire.
Once everyone had settled, Jeff said, “We forgot something important. We didn’t say what we were thankful for this year. I’m sure everyone can think of something they’re thankful for.”
TJ tilted back in a recliner, eyelids drooping. “Go ahead.”
Jeff grinned. “Sure, I’ll go first. I’m thankful to be sharing this day with all you wonderful friends. And I’m thankful Tina and Teresa are back together.”
Roland spoke next. “I’m thankful to be here, and thankful for TJ, who introduced me to all you people. And mostly, I’m thankful Charles is better and we were able to buy the loft apartment we’ve always wanted. We’ll be moving after the holidays, and you’re all invited to our housewarming party.”
The thankfulness traveled around the room until the children followed suit, expressing thanks for all the games, the good food, and for the desserts still to come. Teresa, with misty eyes and a voice choked with happiness, said how thankful she was to have her daughter back and for the people who found her: TJ and Jeff. And Eric, for sharing his home with them.
Lisa was silently thankful for the children, Lonnie and Jazz, who’d done what none of them had been able to accomplish—turn Tina back into a child.
Tina wiggled nervously when the other children looked at her expectantly. She looked around the room, and then ran to Jeff, hugged him, then TJ. To each of them she whispered a shy, “Thank you.”
The guests had all left by early evening. Lisa, dressed for the outdoors, went to the back door with Phanny.
Eric asked if he could join them. “I need to move. Burn off those two pieces of pie I ate.”
They went out into the crisp, evening air and strolled the grounds, avoiding the area still cordoned off with yellow crime-scene tape. It loomed in the background, oppressive as a funeral wreath.
Lisa broke the silence. “I think we should ask Maggie if the tape can come down, don’t you?”
“I don’t know. It only happened last Friday.”
It was hard to believe it hadn’t even been a week since a woman had lain dead in that spot. Lisa didn’t want to dwell on it, but knew because of their resemblance to each other, the other woman’s death would weigh on her forever. Pulling her mind from the morbid, she focused on how much she’d enjoyed the day in spite of the tension she’d felt with Eric.
“Eric, this was such a special day. Thank you for everything you put into it.”
“No thanks necessary. You’re right. It was special in spite of everything that’s happened.”
“We can’t overlook the good things we’ve done.”
Eric stopped to adjust Phanny’s collar. “No, but I’ve been thinking about Danielle’s murder. Someone—and I don’t think that someone is Mr. Wysecki—sees you as our ringleader and went after you hoping the rest of us would let it go once you were out of the picture. Danielle’s murder makes me more certain that we’re doing the right thing—this person has to be stopped.”
Lisa’s throat tightened. The fear she’d managed to set aside for the day crept through her like an oncoming case of the flu. She raised her gloved hands to her face to stave off a grimace. “You’re right—about all of it. But you know what I can’t make sense of—what was Wysecki doing here that night?” She exhaled, her breath creating a misty, white vapor in the cool evening air. “That’s a mystery we may never have the answer to unless he explains it to the police.”
Eric turned to her. “There is one more thing I’m thankful for today—you.” When she remained silent, he added softly, “You are what holds all of us together.”
She and Eric avoided the topic of the night before. They’d gotten back on normal ground, but what had happened needed to be discussed.
Lisa stopped walking. “I’m sorry about last night. I shouldn’t have gone out without saying anything. I shouldn’t have gone out at all.”
He turned to her. “Lisa, I was way out of line—I felt like a real horse’s ass today.” He took a deep breath. “I was feeling sorry for myself last night, that’s why I went up to talk to you. I hoped you’d still be up. I needed a shoulder to cry on, I suppose.” He paused. “I needed your shoulder.”
Lisa, bewildered by the rush of feeling that overcame her with his words, whispered, “I needed someone, too.” She bent down to pet Phanny, who looked puzzled because they’d stopped walking. “Everything felt so overwhelming last night. For me, being with Tyler was like getting drunk. I forgot about everything while I was with him. Not the best choice, but no hangover.”
“I understand. Are we okay?”
Lisa felt like her next words would be critical to any friendship or relationship she’d ever have with Eric Schindler. She said, “Very okay,” and reached out to him.
He took her in his arms. She felt safe nestled against his wide chest, and wondered why she’d never seen past her petty annoyances to how good a man he really was. They broke the embrace as the security guard walked past and wished them a good evening.
She had to admit Eric could be kind and generous. That’s probably all there was to it. She didn’t need the complication of having romantic feelings for a man. Any man. Or worse, a man described by TJ as being in love with a ghost. Maybe her feelings were only lust—that she could deal with.
TJ was sharing the lower suite with her sister and planned on driving them home the next day. She’d go back to her apartment where she’d meet Richard for their trip to Wisconsin Dells. After Janeen and the kids had settled in for the night, TJ went upstairs to get a nightcap.
She wanted to talk to Lisa. Grabbing a nearly full bottle of wine, she picked up two glasses and padded up the steps. There was a light under the door to the apartment. After tapping softly on the door, TJ walked in and saw Lisa sitting on the couch, reading a book.
Lisa looked up. “Unusual for you to be awake this late. What’s going on?”
“Nothin’, just needed to tell you something before I leave.” TJ set down the wine glasses, and at a nod from Lisa, poured them each a glass of wine.
“Speaking of your weekend with Richard, are you sure it’s a good idea?”
TJ frowned. “Why wouldn’t it be?”
“I can think of a few reasons, but setting them aside for now, what’s on your mind?”
“Rollie and Charles.”
“What about them? They looked happy today.”
“They’re happy—it’s somethin’ else. Rollie told me he’s pretty sure Charles’ mugging wasn’t a mugging.”
“Do they think it was a hate crime because he’s gay?”
TJ looked at her impatiently. “You aren’t getting it, are you? Remember it happened a couple days after we met him at the salon?”
Lisa winced at the enormity of TJ’s words. “Rollie thinks it was about what we’re doing?”
“Just sayin’ Rollie thinks it might be.”
“Why now, after all this time?”
“Seems like now that Charles is over the trauma, he remembered somethin’. After the guy worked him over, he said to Charles, ‘Stay the fuck out of it!’ Rollie hasn’t told Charles what he thinks it means. Not yet, anyway.”
“Why isn’t he telling Charles the truth?”
“Well, there ain’t no real truth here. It’s just supposition, right?”
“But if it’s about our investigation, the assailant mistook him for Roland, just like me and Danielle. They are about the same height and build. And it was dark.”
“Yeah, yeah. But two mistakes? Well, there’s nothin’ we can do about it anyway. It’s over and Charles is okay. I think Rollie’s afraid if Charles thinks his attack had anything to do with Rollie’s helpin’ women disappear he won’t want him to do it anymore. Or donate to the cause again. Don’t want that to happen.”
Lisa drained her glass. “Yes, but—a gay bashing? It’s unconscionable to let Charles go on thinking that.”
“Would you talk to Rollie about it?”
“Why me?”
“I dunno. Because you could do it better?”
Eric’s words came back to her; “You are what holds us all together.” It felt like a heavy burden. She’d have to be strong for all of them, and somewhere in that strength, find a little left for herself.
50
TJ and Lisa were eating breakfast when Maggie entered the room, her cheeks pink from the cold. “Sorry to disturb your breakfast. Security let me in.” She nodded toward the food-laden buffet. “Is this really the day after Thanksgiving?”
Lisa asked, “Do you have news for us?”
“I do. Is everyone here?”
“No, just us. Would you like some breakfast?”
“Thanks, but I can’t stay long. The women’s bodies in Wysecki’s basement have been identified. None of them are on your short list, but you had one of them on your original list. We had the woman’s husband as the prime suspect, though he was never arrested.”
“Do you think Wysecki might have killed the wife for the husband?”
“They’re looking into it. Wysecki had financial problems from time to time, so I suppose it’s possible he may have resorted to it. They’re also looking into his wife’s death, but it appears to have been an accident.”
TJ scraped her plate. “What about Danielle Ventura? If Wysecki didn’t kill her, who did? If it was someone who thought she was Lisa, then we must be on the right track; there is a killer and it ain’t Wysecki. And get this—Teresa knew one of the ladies on our short list. Said she had a guy in her life other than her husband.”
Maggie said, “Okay, we don’t know who killed Danielle. Everything points to Wysecki, but we won’t know anything for sure until we have him in custody, and that probably won’t be until next week sometime. If it wasn’t him and her murder is related to your interviews, then I’d have to ask—who knew what your group was doing?”
Lisa choked on a bite of food. “Who knew? That would be a lot of people. Everyone we interviewed. “
“That’s right. So, bottom line—you need to wrap this up as soon as possible. How long are all of you planning on staying here?”
Lisa shrugged. “I think TJ is planning to leave next week.”
TJ nodded. “Have a life to get back to.”
Lisa agreed. “I’d like to be in my own home again before Christmas. Shannon’s offered to stay with me, but our plans aren’t certain yet.”
Maggie frowned. “I think you should consider going to the police after Wysecki is interviewed. Unless he admits to killing Danielle, the Waukesha Police will be back to talk to all of you, and this time their questions will be intense. It would pay to be proactive.”
Before TJ could protest, Maggie said, “That may be a good thing for all of you. With it out in the open, there’d be no reason for the killer to go after any of you.”
“We’re making progress, Maggie. I think in a week we’ll have enough.”
“Good. They should be done talking with Wysecki by then. Until then, remind everyone to be cautious. It’s unlikely your killer will go after any of you again. If he’s the one who killed Danielle, he’s probably feeling real good about having Wysecki as a scapegoat.”
Lisa said, “One last question. Do you think there’d be any value in having a profiler look at our information?”
“A profiler? No, I don’t think so, Lisa. Because, if I’ve understood your purpose here, you’re not looking for a killer, you’re simply trying to convince the police there is a killer, force them to begin a formal investigation.
“If, and I say this very emphatically, you folks believe you have an idea who is behind these disappearances, do not attempt to play detectives. I would hope an assault on one of you and the murder of a person who was supposed to be one of you, would be enough to prevent you from doing something stupid.”
TJ and Lisa stayed silent, letting Maggie think she’d had the last word on the subject. Lisa didn’t mention the stack of books on Eric’s desk about profiling, the Internet search he’d done, or the long list of profilers for hire he printed out.
On a whim, Maggie stopped in Kristy’s Classics. She found Eric out in the garage, bent under the open hood of a ‘57 Chevy.
“Didn’t think you did the dirty work,” Maggie jabbed.
Eric looked up, a clipboard in hand. “No, just recording the number from the firewall dataplate.”
“I just talked to Lisa and TJ and decided I’d stop and see you.”
“Why the personal visit, Detective?”
Maggie repeated what she’d told the others.
Eric said, “I’m not surprised. What happens if they find out Wysecki didn’t kill Danielle?
“You’ll have to tell them everything.”
Eric grimaced.
She said, “How many of the women on your list are from Waukesha County?”
“Four, I believe, including my wife and Jamie Denison.”
“I’ve been thinking; if you get nowhere with the MPD, I’m pretty sure Waukesha County would take the case. Once it’s officially on Waukesha’s books, Milwaukee would be backed into it whether they wanted to be or not.”
“I like your way of thinking, Detective,” Eric said. “But we’d still want to finish what we’ve started. Couldn’t a profiler be helpful in finding a commonality between the women? Might move things along a little faster.”
Maggie sighed. “I’m not a big proponent of profiling. But if it would get you folks away from police work, go for it. You might want to talk to David. He had a case in Chicago when he worked there, and they used a local guy to run a profile for them. David liked him, said he was good.”
“Can you find out how to contact him?”
“Let me talk to David. I’ll let you know what he thinks. He knows this profiler pretty well, so if you decide to go that route, I’m sure he’d call him for you.”
“I’d appreciate it. I’ll be glad to pay his fee.”
“The others are talking about returning to their homes. I’m hoping you’ll convince them to stay with you. And, include Shannon.”
“I’ve been working on it. But I’m up against the holiday season, and they’re a stubborn bunch.”
