Beyond Suspicion (7 page)

Eleven

Just before noon Roger tapped on her door. “Shelby, would you like a grilled cheese sandwich?”

“No, thanks, I'm not very hungry. I'll get something later.”

“Okay.” He opened the door just enough to lean his head inside. “Your mother told me about Valerie.” His unshaven face was haggard and drawn. “Shelby, everything will be okay. We'll get Josh back and they'll see how wrong they were.”

“Thanks, Roger, and…well…I'm sorry about the park thing and making you and Mom worry. I'm not going to do anything like that again.”
Unless I have to
.

“That means a lot to both of us.” Roger gave her a brief half-smile before closing the door.

His footsteps faded down the hall. It was strange how she seemed to be getting closer to him while at the same time her friends were deserting her. If anyone had a right to act that way, he did.

She slid her glasses on and picked up her cell, then scooted back to lean against the pillows. Rachel hadn't texted or called since the warning about the Net. Would she get the same reaction from Rachel's mother? She needed to know, one way or another.

I can't talk to Val anymore. How about u?

Shelby's hand jerked as the cell rang. It wasn't a number that she recognized. It might be one of those nuts from the net.

“Hello?”

“Hi, is everything okay over there? I mean with your folks? Are you okay?”

Matt. Shelby felt a surge of emotion. He actually cared, just when she needed to talk to someone so much.

“Yes, they're fine,” she said.

“What about you?”

“I'm okay. I just wish I had more than a learner's permit so I could get out and find the van myself. I know I'd recognize it if I saw it.”

“It would take forever for one person to search, Shelby. The police are doing all they can. Besides, they're probably miles from here by now.”

She swung her legs over to sit on the side of the bed. “I know, but I'd still like to try. I can't sit here and do nothing while Josh is missing.”

“I could keep my eyes open driving around and if I spotted anything, I could tell you.”

“What if we drove around together? I'm the one who can recognize it. I'll even pay for the gas.”

“I don't think your folks would let you.”

Shelby stifled an exasperated sigh and pushed harder. “Matt, it's so hard waiting and not doing anything! Knowing the police aren't doing anything either. Detective Rutherford is such a lousy cop.”

“I don't think so. You have to be good to become a detective. I'm sure he's doing his job.”

“You wouldn't say that if you knew him.” Shelby felt let down that Matt would defend Rutherford after seeing how he treated her in the park. “He's a jerk. Grimes isn't any better, but at least he's not trashing me or following me around instead of trying to find the kidnappers.”

“Grimes was on Lola Banes' talk show.” Matt's voice was a bit cool. “Not just Rutherford. I saw the show.”

“It doesn't matter. I need to prove that van exists!”

“Don't get mad at what I'm going to say, okay?”

Shelby frowned into the phone. If he told her he didn't believe the van existed she was hanging up. “What?”

“Do you think Josh is still alive?”

A chill went through her body. “Of course he's alive. I-I refuse to think anything different.”

She slid off the bed and started pacing, phone at her ear.

“Why?” asked Matt.

He wanted a reason? What an awful question. She'd hang up on him but—she needed help, and he was the only one who had come close to giving it. “Because they parked across the street like three times. They wanted Josh, not just any baby. You don't kill a baby you want that much.”

“That makes sense,” Matt said, sounding relieved and a little surprised.

Encouraged, excited that someone was finally listening, she went on: “I also think they're from around here. You don't spy on someone if you have to travel far to do it. They must have been cruising around town looking for a likely scenario, and spotted me and Josh. Then they came back to study our habits.”

“Why didn't you tell anyone about them?”

Shelby plopped on her desk chair. It was tiring answering the same questions, but he was her only chance to get out there and search. “Because I believed they were trying to buy the vacant house.”

“But they gave you the creeps. I would think the first thing you would do is tell your friends.”

Aaargh! “Come on, Matt. You sound just like Rutherford and Grimes. I'll tell you what I told them. I don't tell my mother or my friends every time I see someone creepy. And I bet you don't either.”

“No. I guess I don't.”

“I wish I
had
told someone, then this might never have happened.” She used one finger under her lenses to brush away the sudden tears that threatened to spill over. “I'd give anything to do that over so Josh would be safe at home.”

“I know. Sorry if I upset you.” Matt's voice became gentle.

“Matt, will you help me…find the van, I mean?” There was a second of uncomfortable silence. “Never mind. I'm sorry I put you on the spot like that. Just forget it.”

“How about tonight?”

Her heart skipped a beat. “Are you sure? I mean, I did put you on the spot.”

“Yes, you did, but I'm sure. I have a plan. Hang up the phone,” Matt said. “I'm going to call your landline and get permission to call you and ask you out for a burger or something.”

“Oh, Matt, they'll just say no. Why don't you park in the alley and I'll sneak out?”

“I'm not sneaking around, and if that's your plan I won't help you.”

“Okay,” she said, feeling self-conscious. “But if they say no, I'll find a way even without you.”

“Ummmm,” Matt sang, “I'm gonna tell on you.”

“That's not funny.” But she was laughing when she said it.

“Sure it is. I'll call in a few minutes.” He disconnected.

Shelby straightened the bed. Then she paced. Nerves made her run to the bathroom. She had just hung up the hand towel when the phone rang. Her mother could be heard answering the extension in the living room.

She opened the door and waited, listening, but all she could hear was the sound of her mother's voice. Out of habit, she touched the nosepiece of her glasses. What was taking so long? Were they saying don't call here again like Valerie's mother said to her?

“Shelby, Matt's on the phone.”

“Thanks, Mom.” Shelby smoothed her tee and took a calming breath. She walked into the living room trying to act like getting a call from him was an everyday thing.

Her mother held her hand over the mouthpiece and whispered. “Matt's going to ask you something and I already said it was okay.”

Shelby drew her eyebrows together, appearing puzzled, and took the phone. Her mother returned to the couch next to Roger. The TV was muted so they would be able to hear everything she said.

“Hello?”

“Hey, she said it was okay. If she's listening tell me you'd love to go.”

“Matt, I would love to go.” Shelby's heart pounded.

“Oh, we're going to get a burger then come home by nine,” he said. “I'm coming over at five. Now tell me good-bye and hang up.”

“Okay, see you then,” she said. “Good-bye.”

“See ya.” Matt hung up first.

“He sounds like a nice young man,” her mother said.

“Yeah,” Shelby said. “I think he's trying to make me feel better.”

“That's what he told me,” her mother said. “He said you're like the little sister he never had.”

“That's nice.”

“I like his consideration,” Roger said. “His parents raised him right.”

Twelve

Shelby felt uneasy waiting for Matt to come get her. The stress was getting to her, affecting every instant of her life. Noises in the street caught her attention. She went to the front windows and peeped through a corner of the drapes.

“Hey, look.”

“What is it?” her mother asked, standing.

“I think some of the big trucks are leaving.” Shelby pushed the drape to make a larger opening. She saw a man breaking down a satellite on another truck. He waved at a smaller SUV with the same national network logo driving away.

“Leaving?” Roger put his head next to hers at the window. “They
are
leaving. Turn up the sound and check the news, Melissa.” He grabbed the cord and opened the drapes wide.

Her mother flipped through the local channels. “There's no breaking news about anything. Roger, call Mr. Quick.”

“I don't think he'll know anything.” Roger moved toward the phone.

“He might,” her mother said.

Shelby watched Roger pick up the receiver and dial, wishing as hard as she could Josh had been found; that they were really and truly going to be left alone.

When Jeffrey Quick got on the line Roger put him on speaker. “Most of the satellite vans have gone. Just a couple of locals are hanging around. Have you heard anything?”

“My guess is that staying out of sight and unavailable makes the news boring. And since your neighbors aren't cooperating by giving interviews or personal opinions about you, they have nothing to report.”

“What do we do now?” Roger asked. “Is it safe to go out?”

“Keep doing what you're doing. The powers that be will keep some of the reporters from San Antonio there a few more days to try and get an exclusive, but by next week they should give up.”

“I'm not sure how I feel about that.” Her mother put a hand on Roger's shoulder. “We'll finally get a little peace in our own home. B-but that means they won't be talking about Josh. They'll forget all about him.”

Shelby's limbs went limp and she sank onto the recliner. She hadn't thought about the media being helpful. Mr. Quick went on as if her mother had never said anything.

“I've been calling in favors to put pressure on the District Attorney's office to check out the van. It turns out the police have been actively working on it.”

“I don't believe it,” Shelby said, thinking of Detective Rutherford.

“Shelby, your parents informed my office of what you did this morning. That was dangerous and stupid.”

Shelby winced from the rebuke. “I know.”

“The strange thing is that little incident has been kept under wraps. I'm not sure why, but I'm assuming it's because they couldn't find anything incriminating. But don't do it again.”

“I won't.” Guilt about her plans with Matt almost made her confess right then and there. Wouldn't they think this was another stupid move? What if the police were keeping an eye on Matt? If Mr. Quick or Roger knew why Matt was coming to get her…well, it wasn't something she wanted to think about. If she found the van and Josh, all would be forgiven. That thought gave her the resolve she needed to keep quiet.

After they said their good-byes, Roger went back to the couch. He propped his feet on the coffee table, crossed his ankles, and leaned his head back. “I'm exhausted. Good thing we called Susan and Earl to shop for our groceries and deliver them to Myra at the office. I don't think I could visit with anyone.”

“Roger, why don't you go take a nap?” her mother said, sitting beside him.

“No, I want to stay up…just in case.”

“I understand.” She kissed him. “I think I'm going to lie down for a while. Call me if…”

“I know.” Roger pulled her close.

Shelby decided they needed to be alone. In her bedroom she sat on the bed and filed her nails to try to calm her emotions. No more sadness right now. Soon she would be doing something to find Josh instead of sitting in the house worrying. If she and Matt found the van, Josh could be home safe tonight. Her mom's bedroom door closed. Shelby knew her mother was trying to pull herself together for Josh's sake. So far it seemed to be working—a little.

Roger hadn't shaved since Josh disappeared. He'd stayed in front of the television flipping from channel to channel, sometimes mumbling. He watched anything that might mention Josh, even panel discussions about missing children. When he talked to her he seemed okay, but she couldn't help wondering if he was on the verge of losing it.

Shelby put the emery board next to her glasses on the bedside table and rolled over on her side. Holding it together for both of them would be too much for her. Her mind filled with joyous scenes of bringing Josh home tonight and putting him in their arms.

When she opened her eyes and yawned the clock showed that a couple of hours had passed. Time to get up. She fluffed the pillows and straightened the bed. Her grandparents might come while she was out with Matt. The excitement of being with someone who listened to her and rescuing Josh lifted her spirits.

As she got dressed, in a roll-tab-sleeve blue tunic top and boot-cut jeans, she reminded herself this wasn't a date. She was doing this for Josh, and no doubt Matt was, too. He really was a good guy. She put her hair in a scrunchie and added a little mascara and lip gloss. When that was done she slipped her glasses on. This was fine, considering the circumstances, but one of these days, when Joshie was home, she hoped to get ready for a real date.

As Shelby joined Roger in the living room to wait, her anxiety rose. Her mom came out of the bedroom and joined them. She'd made a half-hearted attempt at combing her hair. It hung straight, framing her newly aged face, freshly washed, with no trace of makeup.

“What should I do when Matt picks me up?” Shelby asked. “What if the reporters get in their cars and follow us?”

Roger sighed. “I hope they don't, but if they do, just have Matt turn around and bring you back home.”

“That would be the best thing.” Her mother frowned. “Maybe this isn't such a good idea, Roger.”

Roger let that hang in the air. Doubts plagued Shelby, too. If they were followed how much searching could they get done? Butterflies started holding a convention in her belly. The doorbell rang.

Roger got up and opened the door to find a young woman standing next to Matt. Her hair, almost the same shade as Shelby's, was tucked behind her ears and she wore a pair of glasses similar to Shelby's.

“Hi.” Matt came in and closed the door. “This is Katie. She's going to be a decoy.”

“Hi.” Katie took off her large yellow sweatshirt. “Shelby, no time to visit. Just put this on.”

Shelby took the sweatshirt. “What's going on, Matt?”

“We're just two kids who came over to see Shelby. When I got out of the car, I said Katie's name real loud. I told her the door sticks so I'd have to open it. As I helped her out, they shouted at us but we ignored them.” Matt smiled. “I think we'll be able to fool them.”

Roger and her mother looked first at Shelby then at Katie. Roger clapped Matt on the back. “You're one smart kid.”

“There doesn't seem to be the crowd out there like before,” Matt said. “It will be easy to leave.”

Shelby slipped the sweatshirt on and tucked the tunic up under the waist band as Katie held her glasses. After she handed them back Shelby pulled the scrunchie out and slipped it on her wrist. Katie arranged her hair. “Perfect,” Katie said, stepping back. “We could be sisters.”

Then she turned to Shelby's mother. “Don't worry about me hanging around, Mrs. Butler. I'm going out the back door where another friend is waiting at the end of the alley. If we get followed, I'll let them catch us a block or two away and find out I'm not Shelby. And, don't worry. I know how to keep my mouth shut.”

Shelby hugged her mother while Roger then turned to Katie. “Thanks, Katie.”

“No problem. Now someone point me to the back door.”

“This way.” Shelby's mother led the way.

Matt took Shelby's hand as he opened the door. For effect, Roger held it for them. Shelby saw cameras raised. A reporter grabbed a mike and headed their way.

Roger waved. “Thanks for coming over, Katie and Matt.” Then he shut the door.

Matt kept Shelby on his right, shielding her from the running reporter. He opened the passenger door of a silver sedan and she hopped in. The reporter shoved the microphone in Matt's face, yelling questions at him. Matt slammed the door, hurried around the front of the car to the other side, and got in. He backed out slowly, forcing the reporter and cameraman to step aside. Shelby kept her head down, shielding her face as more reporters snapped pictures.

In the street Matt stepped on the gas. Shelby scanned the street through the rear window. No other car pulled out. “I hope Katie is getting away,” she said, as she turned back.

“She'll do fine.”

“Can I take off the sweatshirt?”

“Yes, just leave it in the backseat.”

“So, whose car is this?”

“My mom's. She thought you could hide better in her car than the Jeep. She's cool.”

“That was nice of her, tell her I said thanks. Who's Katie?” Shelby pulled down the visor. No mirror so she shoved it back up and did the best she could with the scrunchie.

“My cousin.” Matt grinned. “She's cool, too.”

“Thanks for doing this, Matt.”

“I was glad to see most of the guys out there are gone.”

“According to my lawyer we're not giving them anything to report, so they're giving up. Oh, guess what? Apparently Rutherford didn't tell anyone about this morning.”

“Good.”

“I hope so,” Shelby said. “I'm wondering why he kept it quiet. It doesn't seem like something he would do.”

“I can't believe you're so negative about him.”

“You don't know him. He's an unpleasant man.”

Matt turned left on Main Street. “Do you want to eat something now or later?” There was an edge to his voice.

“I'd rather get started, if you don't mind.” Shelby was already examining everything on the road or parked along the street. It was amazing how many vehicles were white.

“I thought we should hit the neighborhoods and drive up and down the streets. What exactly are we looking for?”

“This van is older, kind of beat up,” Shelby told him. “Let's go into the neighborhoods. Start with this one.”

“Good thinking.”

They drove up and down every street. Matt spotted several vans but Shelby shook her head.

As they drove through other neighborhoods, her frustration grew. “I wish I could tell you what the make is. It's just a box shape with sliding doors on the side.”

“Oh, man, I guess I should have asked you before to describe it, but I thought all you paid attention to was that it was a white van and beat-up.” Matt suddenly swung around in the middle of the street and headed toward town.

“Where are we going?”

“To show you something.”

A few turns later he rolled to a stop at a gated business. Inside the chain-linked fence of the employee parking lot was a fleet of white vans exactly like the one they were hunting. “Is it like these?”

Shelby stared, dumbstruck. “Exactly like them. Only these are newer and cleaner.”

“Those are cargo vans. This is a cleaning business. When they go out they put on magnetic signs.”

“I guess it could be the same make as these.” Shelby said with a sinking feeling. “It was a lot older than these, but mostly the same. I'm pretty sure I'll recognize it.”

“Shelby, the town's full of these vans.” Matt crossed his arms on top of the steering wheel. “This is a complete waste of time. Hungry?”

“No, let's keep at it for a while. If this means the only way we can find my van is at night when the vans are off the streets, then we can start checking all the businesses.”

“Shelby, a lot of employees take them home. And anybody can buy a van. They're not special.” Matt put the car in gear and pulled into the street. “It's time to give up and go eat.”

Shelby knew she sounded foolish, but she was desperate. “I don't think searching for the van in order to find Josh is a waste of time. And giving up is not a choice. Not for me, anyway.”

“Finding Josh is important, but driving all over the city is pointless. You need to face that fact.”

Shelby choked back her anger. No sense in blaming him for telling her his thoughts. He had brought her out here, after all. Making an effort to sound pleasant, she said, “I brought cash, so food is on me. Unless you want me to fill up the tank for your mom.”

“You're kind of sweet, you know that?”

Shelby felt a warm glow spread through her mid-section. “Nah, not really. I can't afford a private detective on my allowance, so you're the best I can get.”

Matt chuckled. “Ouch, that hurt my feelings.”

“Awww, I'm sorry.” Shelby smiled in spite of her disappointment that the hunt had ended so soon.

As Matt pulled onto the road, Shelby saw a white van stopped at the light, ready to cross the intersection in front of them. It took a moment to register what it meant. “Matt, that's him! That's the creepy guy—in that van!”

“Are you sure?”

“I'll know better if we get closer. Oh, no, the light's changing! Follow him!”

Matt swung abruptly into the left-turn lane in front of another car. Its driver blew his horn. As the amber light turned red, Matt hit the brakes. The man in the van stared at them, then shot across the intersection and turned left so fast his brakes squealed.

“We're going to lose him,” Shelby said with a catch in her throat. She turned in her seat and watched the van move with the traffic.

The light changed. The car that had been cut off honked. Matt stepped on the accelerator. Shelby could barely see the back of the van hidden by a stream of other cars. “Hurry, Matt, I'm losing sight of him.”