18

Maven pulled into the parking lot of the quaint apartment building in Aurora.

After numerous and exhaustive phone calls, Maven had three possible names of women who’d been a little too interested in Paul. And this was the first one.

She walked into the foyer and stared at the mailboxes. She found the name she was looking for, Shawna Douglas. Apparently, she still lived in the same apartment. Maven dialed the number from Paul’s address book.

“Hello.”

“Is this Shawna Douglas?”

“Can I ask whose calling?”

Maven explained who she was and why she was calling.

Three minutes later, a tall, fit woman with long red hair opened the door. This certainly wasn’t the woman who’d shown up at Paul’s.

“Maven?”

Maven nodded.

Shawna opened the door wider and motioned towards a set of chairs in the lobby. “We can sit here. So tell me again what’s going on.”

“Paul’s been missing for the past few weeks. And we’re trying to find someone who might have talked with him or knows where he’s at. I’m checking out the names in his address book.”

“Unbelievable.” Shawna shook her head. “I’d heard he was getting married. And you’re the one, huh?”

Maven nodded.

“And…and Paul didn’t show up for the wedding?”

“We all thought he’d changed his mind until he didn’t show up for work when he was supposed to. That’s when we began to suspect something might be wrong. That was only a few days ago.”

“Makes sense. Paul would never miss work without an explanation. And really, he wouldn’t have left you at the altar like that either. He’s not that kind of guy.”

“Yeah, it took me a while to remember that. I didn’t know what else to do but to start calling all his friends. Someone has to know something.”

“Good idea, but I don’t know anything. I haven’t talked with him since he moved to Wooster.”

“How do you know him?”

“I think you’re really asking if we were involved. Romantically.” Her face tinged with pink, then she smiled. “And the answer is no, we weren’t. I was disappointed but…you can’t force something that’s not there.”

“And it wasn’t there.”

“Not for Paul. I was a friend of his wife’s. After she got sick, I spent a lot of time with her—and with him. I knew what a good man he was. I’d hoped we might have a relationship when he was ready, but it didn’t work out that way.” The woman seemed honest and forthright, not a stalker.

“I see.”

“Paul and I talked about it. But in the end, it was too weird. For both of us. I know some people thought I was chasing him, but I really wasn’t. Not like that other woman.”

“Who would that be?”

“His wife’s nurse. Now she was a strange woman. Even after his wife died, she kept showing up at Paul’s, giving one reason or another. Then she’d…” The woman rolled her eyes. “Never mind. Let’s just say she wasn’t very appropriate.”

“Do you remember her name?”

“Sorry, I don’t. But Vickie would probably know it. I do know she was their home-healthcare provider for more than two years. And I saw how fixated she was on Paul when I’d go to visit.”

“What was strange about her?”

“Even though she was his wife’s nurse, her eyes were always following Paul. And she was always wearing low-cut tops. Making goo-goo eyes at him. Very unprofessional.” She smiled at Maven. “You’re more than welcome to come up to my apartment to see if Paul’s there. That’s why you’re here, right?”

She wouldn’t make excuses for her actions. “I’m looking for information. And you gave me some. Thanks so much.”

“Is there anything I can do?”

“Pray.”

Shawna leaned closer and patted her arm. “I will. And please let me know when you find him.”

“And if you hear from him, you’ll let me know?”

“Absolutely.”

Maven walked back out to her car, certain this woman had nothing to do with Paul’s disappearance. No weird vibes coming from her at all.

On to the next name on the list.

Carrie Downs lived in Chardon. Geauga County, just like Freda Banks.

Maven put the address in the GPS and pulled out of the parking lot. As she drove, her phone buzzed. She glanced down at the phone lying on the seat.

Vickie.

Better take it. Maven pulled off the road. As she hit the call button, she noticed the battery icon flashing. Her gaze moved to the outlet for the charger. Empty. “Hi, Vickie. Talk fast. My battery’s going dead.”

“I found Alicia. We’re on our way to the hospital. She’s really messed up.”

“Does she know anything about your dad?”

“She’s not making any sense. Mostly she keeps singing and won’t respond to any of my questions.”

“Vickie, who was your mom’s home-healthcare aide?”

“She had several.”

“This one would have been a woman. Probably single.”

“Oh…that was—”

“Hello. Hello.” The phone was dead. “Great. Just great.”

Maven looked around. If her sense of geography was correct, she wasn’t far from Freda’s house. Maven could call Vickie back. Besides, Freda would want to know Alicia had been found and was on the way to the hospital with Vickie.

And Freda might know the name of her daughter’s nurse.

****

Paul’s eyes were closed in prayer. God, I’m trusting You to get me out of here. There’s no way I’ll let Maven think I deserted her. His mind was clear for the moment. Not drinking the water helped, but he could only do that so often. His body craved water. The heat in his prison was unbearable at times.

He had to find a way to convince her she didn’t need to give him drugs. To make her believe he’d cooperate. But how? He hated the thought of lying, but considering the circumstances…You do what you have to do to survive. He’d told victims that more times than he could remember.

And now it was time for him to do the same.

A motor rumbled in the distance. She was back.

He grabbed the water bottle and dumped its contents behind him, then replaced it on the crate. No reason for her to know he hadn’t taken a drink from it.

A minute later, the door opened.

She walked in.

He smiled at her, letting his eyes droop as if tired. “Morning, sunshine.”

She didn’t smile back. “It’s not morning. It’s afternoon.”

“I can’t keep track with all the drugs. Then afternoon, sunshine.”

She eyed him with suspicion. “Why are you in such a good mood?”

“Why not? It’s like you said. I don’t have control, so I might as well accept this situation. It is what it is, right? Sorry I’ve been such a pain. The drugs are making me grumpy.”

“Right.” She tossed him a couple slices of bread. Two.

Apparently, no chicken today. But two pieces were definitely better than one. “So how are you? I know this can’t be easy for you either.”

She rolled her eyes. “Oh, so now you’re worried about me? You want me to believe that? I’m not that stupid.”

“I don’t think you’re stupid at all. After all, you managed to get me here, didn’t you?”

“Yes, that was quite the feat, don’t you think?”

Paul met her gaze. “What are your plans—for me?”

“I haven’t decided yet. Time to eat.”

He stared at the bread. “Fine by me. It’s not like I have anything else to do but eat and sleep.”

“What else would you want to do?”

“Spend some time with you. We could watch TV or read a good book together.”

“Yeah, right.”

Do what he had to do. He forced a smile. “Like I said, you’re the one in control. I’m just trying to make this as pleasant as possible. For both of us. Until you decide what to do with me.”

“Paul, I know all the games. Being nice to me won’t change your situation one iota.” She leaned towards him, her face an angry red mask. “Do you hear me? Not one iota. You had your chance and you didn’t take it. Now you have to pay.”

“I hear you, but”—Paul looked up at his captor—“you can’t keep me here forever.”

“If I were you, I wouldn’t be in too big of a hurry for phase two. But you’re right. I don’t plan to keep you here forever. I just want you to suffer first.” She smiled. “A lot. Then I’ll put you out of your misery.”

“Why would you want me to suffer? I don’t understand. What did I do to make you hate me?”

“You don’t deserve to be happy. Why should you get to have a life when my life is over? Thanks to you.”

“I didn’t do anything to you. I don’t deserve this and you know it. I think you need some help.”

She glared down at him. “Whatever.” She slammed a new water bottle down on the crate. “I’m not in the mood for you. I’ll be back later.” She turned and walked out.

Thank You, God. He picked up the bread but ignored the water. No water for the second day in a row. He was feeling more clear-headed. Of course, he was thirstier than he’d ever been in his life.

But no drugs in his system meant a chance to escape. He wouldn’t lose this opportunity. He stared at the keys hanging on the wall.

So close but still impossible to reach.

He stared down at the cuffs—and his bloody wrists. There was no way he was getting out of them. He’d tried to move the milk cooler more times than he could count. Still, he kept tugging. One of these times, he might loosen it just enough…but this wouldn’t be the time. Exhausted, he stopped and stared at the water.

Thirst won.

****

Maven walked up to Freda’s house. She pressed the doorbell and waited. After a minute or so, she pressed the doorbell again. Still no Freda. She peeked into the garage.

Her car was there, so she had to be around, and the golf cart Maven had seen the last time was gone. Freda was most likely somewhere on the property.

Frustrated, Maven sighed. How could her phone conk out just when she needed it the most? Of course, it was her own fault for not making sure it was charged up. Paul was always reminding her.

Paul. Her eyes filled with tears. Where was he? Was he still alive? Would she know if he wasn’t? She needed to find out what Alicia knew. And that meant getting to a phone. She pressed the doorbell again, not that she thought Freda would answer.

Maybe the door was unlocked. Maven really didn’t know Freda well enough to just walk in and use the phone. Even if the door was unlocked.

How many acres had Freda said the farm was? One hundred fifty. That was a lot of land.

Maven surveyed the area. Maybe the woman was in one of the barns. She moved towards the barn closest to the house. The smell of hay and cow assaulted her. “Hello,” Maven called out. “Hello.”

“Hello,” a man’s voice responded. A moment later, a young Amish man stepped around the corner. He wore dark blue pants and a light blue shirt. His beard was only beginning to fill in, meaning he hadn’t been married all that long. “Can I help you?”

“I’m looking for Freda.”

“Oh. I saw Mrs. Banks take off on her golf cart a while ago.”

“Where do you think she went?”

“I’m not sure.” He shook his head. “Lately, she’s been taking off a couple of times every day on that golf cart. It’s been hard on her. Quitting the farming, you know? Losing her husband and then her daughter.”

“I needed to use her phone. Do you have one I could use?”

He shook his head but smiled. “No, I don’t.”

“So she’s been going out on the property a couple of times a day?”

“Just for the last few weeks. Before that, she never went out. She said it made her too sad to see someone else doing the farming. I guess she changed her mind. She probably enjoys getting out in the fresh air.”

“I really need to find her.”

He nodded. “I saw her out at the old barn a few times. She might be there.”

“Is it too far to walk?”

“Don’t have to walk. Just take your car and turn left at the drive. About a mile down the road, you’ll see a dirt road. More like a path. That will take you to the old barn.”

“Thank you. That’s what I’ll do.”

Maven found the dirt road without a problem. But she wasn’t sure if her car would survive it. She crept along, hoping she wouldn’t get a flat tire on the bumpy path.

Finally, an old barn came into view. A small, run-down house stood nearby. Had Freda and her husband lived in that house? Probably so. Freda must like to come here to relive the memories, the good times. That was so sad—her heart went out to the woman. Maven understood loss.

No golf cart in sight.

Maven frowned. She should have waited for Freda to come back to the house. She was probably on her way there right now. Oh well. Maven still needed to work on that patience thing.

She headed towards the old, abandoned house. She might as well make sure the cart wasn’t parked where she couldn’t see it. The door of the house wasn’t locked. She went inside.

The house was bare. Cobwebs hung from the corners. She started sneezing. Dusty. Nobody had lived here in a long time or even been in the house. If this wasn’t where she was coming, where was she?