Chasing Second Chances (8 page)

“None,” she answered. “The FBI thinks the motive might not be money.” For a moment, she debated on whether or not to tell Anne what Agent Wilkins had suggested but decided not to. She had already dismissed that absurd possibility, after all.

“That does make things complicated,” Anne agreed. “But at least, it’s good to know that the FBI is lending a hand in this case.”

“I guess.”

Anne glanced at the doorway and then leaned over. “On another topic, how are you doing living with two men under the same roof?”

Kate scrunched her nose. “That doesn’t sound right.”

“It doesn’t sound fair, all right,” Anne said. “But what can I say? Some women are just plain lucky.”

Kate said nothing. Lucky was the last thing she thought she was these past few days.

“Well?”

“I’m doing well. I haven’t really paid attention to it that much.”

“So they haven’t fought?” Anne asked in a curious whisper.

“Heavens, no. Why would they fight? They’re adults, Anne, not teenage boys.”

“They’re still boys.”

“They’re grown men,” Kate corrected. “Besides, they have no reason to fight or even compete with each other. It’s not like they’re in the same situation.”

“So you’re absolutely sure Lloyd no longer has feelings for you and you no longer have feelings for him?”

“Lloyd is the father of Jack and Lena. Nothing will change that.”

“That didn’t answer my question.”

Kate paused before answering, debating on whether or not to tell Anne about what had happened between her and Lloyd in Rapid City. This time, she decided to tell her, glancing at the doorway, as well, before moving closer and dropping her voice a few notches.

“Lloyd and I kissed.”

Anne’s eyes widened. “You what?”

“Shh.” She put a finger on her friend’s lips as she warily gave another glance at the bedroom door.

Anne led her towards the window so they could be farther from the door. “But why?”

She shrugged. “It just happened.”

“So it was…an accident?”

“I guess you could put it that way,” she replied. “All I know is that one moment I was sobbing hysterically, wanting the earth to swallow me up and then the next, he was kissing me.”

“And you kissed him back?”

Kate nodded slowly.

Anne sighed. “Then that clearly means that Lloyd still has feelings for you and that you still have feelings for him.”

“I do not,” she argued. “I mean, I still care for him, of course, but I don’t love him anymore.”

“Then you still have feelings for him.”

Kate kept silent.

“Oh don’t worry about it, Kate.” Anne patted her on the shoulder. “Like you said, it’s understandable that you still care for the father of your children. I’m sure every divorced wife feels even just a little bit of concern for the ex-husband she had kids with. It’s not like…”

Anne stopped talking as they heard a knock on the bedroom door.

“What is it?” Kate asked loudly.

The bedroom door opened and Bryan stepped in.

“Lt. Paulson is on the phone. He said he wanted to talk to you immediately.”

Kate took the receiver that was in Bryan’s hand. “Lt. Paulson?”

“Kate, I have some news…bad news, I’m afraid.”

Kate swallowed. “Go on.”

“Charlene Morrow has been found.”

Kate held her breath.

“She’s dead.”

Chapter Eleven

Kate clutched at her chest, her cheeks growing pale as she watched two men transport the bag containing Charlene’s body to the coroner’s van.

Not too long ago, Charlene had been smiling, her smile showing the dimple on her right cheek and the gap between her front teeth, her eyes glistening with the hope and passion for living; typical of people who had their whole lives ahead of them. Now, Charlene had nothing ahead of her. She would never smile again.

She was cold, still and in the dark.

Dead.

That, however, was not the worst part. Now that Charlene had been found dead, the whole tragedy was more real, along with the possibility that she might never be able to bring Jack and Lena home alive.

Her children were at the mercy of a murderer.

She clamped her hand over her mouth, the mere thought of seeing Jack or Lena in small black body bags making her want to scream in anguish and feel like throwing up at the same time.

“We shouldn’t have come here,” Bryan said as he wrapped his arms around her.

She shook her head. “I wanted to see.”

What exactly did she want to see for herself? Charlene’s body? The police doing their jobs? Or had she been hoping for a sign, any sign that Jack and Lena were still alive?

“Ms. Evans, are you all right?” Lt. Paulson’s voice broke into her thoughts.

Kate nodded, though she was aware that she was still trembling. “What can you tell us, Lieutenant?”

Lt. Paulson checked his notebook. “Charlene Morrow was found somewhere in the woods at around four A.M. A local named Ivan Yates found her and placed the call. He said he was looking for worms to use as baits for his next fishing trip and stumbled upon the body. The coroner estimates she’s been dead for at least three days.”

Kate squeezed Bryan’s arm as she let out a curse.

“Was she murdered?” Lloyd asked.

Kate and Bryan both turned their heads towards Lloyd at the same time while Lt. Paulson looked up from his notebook with a grimace.

“Yes,” he answered shakily. “The coroner said the cause of death was a gunshot.”

“Which means?” Kate asked.

“She died from a wound straight to her heart,” Lt. Paulson explained. “It isn’t sure yet what gun was used.”

“It doesn’t matter,” Lloyd said, a hint of anger showing in his voice. “What matters is that she was murdered, killed in cold blood, and then dumped carelessly. I did not think we were dealing with somebody so cold-blooded.”

“You think kidnapping isn’t cold-blooded enough?” Bryan asked.

Lloyd ignored him, turning to Lt. Paulson instead. “Is there any trace of the kids in the area?”

“We’ve already checked the perimeter,” Lt. Paulson replied. “We did not find any indication that the children were with Charlene at the time she was killed.”

“But you did not find any indication that the children are alive, either,” Lloyd said. It was not a question but a statement.

“Canine units are searching the premises as we speak,” Lt. Paulson merely said.

“And are we to believe that the same person who killed Charlene is the one who has the children?” Lloyd asked, persistent. “Or is there a possibility that it could be someone else? That this is a separate incident?”

“It’s no separate incident,” Agent Wilkins spoke before Lt. Paulson could answer. “At this point, we still believe that the same person kidnapped Charlene, Jack and Lena and in light of new evidence, we now believe that person killed Charlene. Whether this was part of his plan all along or an unexpected turn of events remains to be seen.”

“So you’re saying it could have been an accident?” Lloyd pressed.

Agent Wilkins met his gaze squarely. “If by accident, Mr. Marrick, you mean that the murderer’s hand slipped, I do not believe that to be the case. What I meant was that the kidnapper…the killer might have gotten rid of her because it became too inconvenient. Maybe she fought back.”

“The coroner said she had defensive wounds,” Lt. Paulson contributed.

“Or there might have been a quarrel,” Agent Wilkins added. “But as I said, it could also have been part of the plan all along. I refuse to speculate any further until the new evidence comes in.”

Lloyd nodded but clenched his fist at his side. “I understand.”

Kate looked at him, puzzled. He had been so calm until now and yet it seemed he had finally lost it. Was it because he, too, was suddenly afraid? Because he realized for the first time that they might not get the kids back?

For the first time, she realized that he was just as scared as she was. He had been so calm all this time but for all she knew, he could be suffering just as much as she was. Jack and Lena were as much his children as they were hers, after all. There was no such thing as an ex-father.

She wanted to place her hand on his shoulder, to offer him some measure of comfort and let him know she was there for him just as he had been there for her but with Bryan’s arms around her, she couldn’t and so she simply frowned.

Why were things so complicated?

“It will be all right, Kate,” Bryan told her, holding her tightly against him. “I’m sure the kids are safe somewhere else, maybe somewhere not far from here.”

Kate just nodded.

“You!” a woman suddenly shouted.

She turned her head to find Irene Morrow walking towards her, her eyes red and her cheeks streaked with tears.

“What are you doing here?” Irene hissed. “Do you feel good now that you’ve learned my daughter is dead and your children are not lying beside her?”

“Irene, stop it,” the man behind her, who Kate presumed was Mr. Morrow, said.

“All these years, I’ve done my best to raise my daughter, to give her everything she needed,” Irene went on, heedless of her husband. “But it wasn’t enough, was it? No matter how hard you try to be a good mother, if there’s a mother out there who’s done worse than you, then your child can still end up…”

The woman sobbed, unable to continue. Her husband placed an arm around her, comforting her.

“Mrs. Morrow, I’m sorry for your loss,” Kate spoke softly. “Charlene was…”

“Don’t speak as if you knew my daughter,” Irene said, glaring at her. “You never even really paid attention to her, did you? Anyone was fine as long as she could watch over your children in your place. She should never have…”

“Mrs. Morrow, we truly are sorry for your loss,” Bryan interrupted her. “We know how hard it must be for you but…”

“You know how hard it must be for me?” Irene gave a mocking laugh even as more tears seeped from the corners of her eyes.

Before Bryan could say another word, Irene continued, glaring at Kate once more. “Well, I hope you will truly find out how hard it is. I hope you will never find your children again!”

“Irene, that’s enough.” Mr. Morrow led his wife away, casting Kate a glance that begged for her understanding.

Kate understood. She really did. Still, the words Mrs. Morrow spoke, even though she had not meant them, wounded her deeply.

I hope you will never find your children again.

She reached for the locket hanging from her neck, clenching her fingers tightly around it. What if she never knew if her children were dead or alive?

“Kate.” Bryan squeezed her shoulder. “Don’t mind her, all right?”

Kate said nothing.

Bryan sighed. “I knew we shouldn’t have come.”

He glanced at Lloyd, who still seemed to be deep in thought and in his own anguish, and gave another sigh.

“Let’s go home, Kate,” he said. “There’s no point in staying here.”

Kate still said nothing, but allowed him to lead her away from the edge of the woods, towards the road where his car was waiting. Lloyd followed them, also saying nothing.

As they approached the road, she realized that a small crowd had formed around Mr. and Mrs. Morrow, a crowd of reporters, and she was about to turn back when one of the reporters saw her. Within seconds, the crowd had moved, swarming around her.

“Do you think your children are alive, Ms. Evans?” one reporter asked, thrusting her recorder right in front of Kate’s face.

“Do you still think Charlene Morrow had something to do with the kidnapping?” another asked just as aggressively.

“Are you going to provide the Morrows with financial assistance on Charlene’s burial?”

“Do you think the same person who killed Charlene still has your children?”

“How do you feel, Ms. Evans?”

Kate didn’t answer any of the questions, huddling closer against Bryan and lowering her head as she clenched her locket more tightly. She wished she didn’t hear them too, though, and she tried not to listen so she wouldn’t feel uncomfortable.

“Please leave her alone,” Bryan pleaded with them. “She is going through a tough time right now and…”

“Ms. Evans has nothing to say,” Lloyd spoke all of a sudden, his voice louder and firmer, his expression meaning business, all trace of sorrow gone from it. “If you wish to have good stories, then I suggest you get the facts from the police.”

At once, the crowd fell silent. The silence, however, lasted only a moment before one of the reporters spoke again.

“Mr. Marrick, what…?”

“I have nothing to say, as well,” Lloyd said. “Nothing except that we are sorry for the Morrow’s loss and we will do everything we can to help them. We are also hopeful that the police will find our children alive.”

With those words, he stepped forward, parting the crowd, grabbing Kate’s arm so that she could follow right behind him. Bryan held her other hand as he tried to ward the reporters off, which was easier to do now that Lloyd had fed them a morsel of information that they could chew on.

Lloyd led Kate to Bryan’s car before going to his own, not saying another word.

Kate slid into the passenger seat and closed the door. She closed her eyes and tried to relax, tried to keep away all the scary thoughts that had stemmed from this afternoon’s incident, like a child willing the monsters to stay hidden in the closet, tried to forget the most chilling words she had ever heard in her entire life.

I hope you will never find your children again.

* * * *

“Do you think the Evans children are still alive?” Nick asked Agent Wilkins a few minutes after Kate Evans had left. He could not help but feel sorry for her, especially after what Irene Morrow had said.

“Didn’t you say there was no evidence found indicating that the children were with Charlene Morrow when she was killed?” Agent Wilkins replied with a question of his own. “Or are you asking for my personal opinion like Mr. Marrick?”

Nick held back a frown. He did not like the federal agent, and not just because he was resentful of the fact that the fed had taken over his turf, a feeling many of his colleagues had spoken of but which he was experiencing for the first time. Rather, it was more of the simple fact that Agent Wilkins made him feel uneasy. There was something about the man, something in his eyes that told you he was always a step ahead, that he was in on everyone’s secret, that he knew much more than everyone else did but had no intention of sharing it, and that unsettled Nick and the rest of the officers working under him.