Chasing Second Chances (9 page)

“I was merely asking, Agent Wilkins, from one cop to another, what you think of this case,” he said, refusing to be intimidated.

The agent glanced at him before answering. “What I think of this case? I think it’s far from over, Lt. Paulson. We have our work cut out for us, but at least we have something to go on now.”

Nick wasn’t really satisfied with the response but decided not to press further.

“Now, let me ask you a question in turn, from one cop to another,” Agent Wilkins said.

“Go on.”

“What do you think of Ms. Evans?”

The question took Nick by surprise but he calmly answered. “She seems like an intelligent woman and I imagine she would be kind and cheerful if the circumstances were any different. But even as they are, I believe she’s faring better than most. She’s quite a strong woman.”

“And what about Lloyd Marrick?”

“Rich. Used to running things. He’s usually very composed but today, he lost it a little.”

“Do you think he’s still in love with his ex-wife?”

Nick’s eyes widened a little. Still, he said, “He seems to still care for her.”

Agent Wilkins nodded. “Quite a complicated situation those three got.”

Nick had to agree. One of them might be her ex-husband and the other her current boyfriend, but even he could not help but feel that both men were rivals for Kate Evans’ affection, almost reminding him like Victor and Rick competing for Ilsa in his wife’s favorite film. He wondered why Agent Wilkins brought it up, though.

“Why do you ask?” he asked curiously.

“I’m just curious,” Agent Wilkins answered.

This time, Nick frowned. He certainly wished the agent would share his thoughts and theories, with him—he was quite sure the man had more than a few him—since they were working together, after all, but it seemed he had no intention of doing that.

Oh well, he would just have to get used to the man and in the meantime, focus on organizing his own thoughts and forming his own theories in corroboration with the evidence they found from this site.

And hope for all their sakes that the Evans children were still alive.

* * * *

“Lani, I baked some cookies here for you. Don’t you want a snack?” the woman with the curly brown hair and the long, shiny earrings—Mrs. Curly, she called her—asked through the crack in the doorway.

Lena shook her head.

“Okay. I’ll just save them then so you can eat them after dinner.”

As soon as Mrs. Curly left, Lena snorted. She could not understand why the woman could not get her name right or why she kept trying to be nice to her, kept trying to give her things. Couldn’t she see that Lena did not like her?

If Mrs. Curly was really good, she would bring Lena and Jack home, as Lena had asked during the first day they arrived at the strange house, but after asking over and over, Mrs. Curly had lost her temper, telling Lena never to bring that up again. Since then, Lena had barely spoken.

I want to go home.

After a day and a half of tantrums, Jack already seemed happy, no doubt because the woman had bought him plenty of toys and chocolates. He had already forgotten that they were at someone else’s house, the house of a woman they had never met before. He had forgotten all about Mommy.

Lena, however, had not. She had known from the start that something was wrong, and she knew Mommy would come looking for her and Jack. That was why she had left a message for her back at the dark cottage.

But what if Mommy wasn’t able to find it?

She stood up to look out the window, peeking through the pink blinds, looking at the empty street. She had been waiting for Charlene to come back, remembering that the older girl had promised her they would get back home safely, but a long time had passed and still, there was no sign of Charlene.

And Lena had grown tired of waiting.

There was only one thing to do.

She had to find a way to get back to Mommy on her own.

Wait for me, Mommy.

Chapter Twelve

“Lena!”

Kate sat up on the bed with a jolt, her breath coming in gasps, tears in the corners of her eyes and beads of sweat on her forehead in spite of the air conditioning in the room.

Lena.

She had dreamed of being in the woods, the very same woods where Charlene Morrow’s body had been found. Hearing the children’s voices, she had chased after them until she finally came to a clearing where there was a body bag on the ground. She knelt beside it, opening it, and when she did, she found Lena’s body inside, tendrils of her brown hair caked in mud and dried leaves, dried blood smeared on her cheeks and her blue eyes, the same color as her father’s, open and staring lifelessly at her.

She gave a loud gasp and buried her face in her hands, just the memory of the dream, which felt too real too much to bear.

Oh God, please let my little girl and my little boy be safe.

Beside her, Bryan lay asleep, turned on his side and facing away from her. Except for the slight rising and falling of his shoulders, he was still, letting Kate know she had not awakened him up. Although a part of her longed for the comfort of his arms, for his soothing voice in her ears, she gave a sigh of relief and tried not to wake him as she got out of bed. Bryan must be tired, after all. He needed his rest. Besides, she had been relying on him far too much these past few days and as wonderful as it felt to be able to count on the man she loved in times like this, she also felt like she needed to summon her inner strength so she could be strong on her own.

Perhaps it is time for you to stand on your own feet.

As much as she did not like Agent Wilkins, as much as she hated his suggestion, she had to admit that at least that piece of advice was sound.

Jack and Lena were her children, and no one cared about them more than her, so it was her responsibility to be strong for them even without counting on anyone else.

She went to the bathroom, still slightly shaking, to wash her face, then wrapping a robe tightly around her silk peach-colored nightgown, she left the room, closing the door softly behind her.

When she passed by the door to Lena’s bedroom, she was tempted to go inside, to find some measure of reassurance, but knowing she would only end up crying, she decided not to. She walked down the stairs, her footsteps not making a sound on the soft carpet, then at the bottom, turned towards the kitchen, intent on getting a glass of water before making her way to the backyard to get some fresh air.

The light was on in the living room, as it had been since the night the children went missing, like the beacon of a lighthouse ready to guide her children home, but she did not expect anyone to be there—Lloyd’s team went home every evening—which was why she stopped in surprise when she saw someone sitting on the rug.

Lloyd.

He was fast asleep, his head resting on the edge of the wooden coffee table in front of his still open laptop, which made her think he fell asleep while working on something, probably intending only on taking a quick nap but ending up dozing off. A few inches from his laptop stood a half empty cup of coffee, while a thin pile of papers rested on his crossed legs.

She had always thought he was more attractive when he was awake, when he had that commanding presence and that serious expression he was known for, when he was in his work element, but now, as she watched him sleeping, his guard down and his features peaceful, she realized he seemed even more handsome.

Come to think of it, she had rarely seen him sleeping even back when they were sharing the same bed. He had always gone to sleep late, after all, but still somehow managed to get up earlier than her. Also, during the weeks following Lena and Jack’s births, she had slept in the nursery.

That was probably one of the reasons why she and Lloyd had fallen apart.

She wondered if she should wake him so he could move into the guest bedroom and get a proper good night’s sleep or if she should just leave him alone. Just when she was about to go with the latter, though, he stirred, slowly lifting his head.

Before she could think of tiptoeing off, their gazes met. Quickly, he straightened his shoulders and rubbed the sleepiness out of his eyes while she simply stood there, frozen in place, holding her glass of water with her other arm folded below her breasts.

“Kate, what are you doing here?” he asked, running his hands through his hair.

“Just going out to get some fresh air,” she answered truthfully.

“Oh, I see.” He squinted to see the time on his laptop. “1:32,” he muttered. “I must have fallen asleep.”

“You should go to sleep in your bed,” she told him. “Good night.”

She walked on towards the patio, standing at the edge of the stone-paved area as she sipped her glass of water and savored the breeze. A few minutes later, she heard the sliding door open behind her. She didn’t turn her head, instead waiting until she found Lloyd standing beside her, stretching his arms.

Suddenly, it hit her that the two of them were alone again, just like they had been that morning at the kitchen sink and just like that morning, she was beginning to feel a little uneasy.

Maybe she should have run away when she had the chance.

She could still run away, too, but at the memory of his expression earlier, she was reminded of how lonely he was, of how much she had wanted to offer him comfort then but had been unable to. Now was her chance.

“Can’t sleep?” Lloyd asked her, stretching his left arm behind him. “Or was it a nightmare?”

“I dreamed of Lena. I dreamed she was dead.”

She felt Lloyd go completely still beside her. For a moment, the air was silent, heavy. Then, Lloyd spoke.

“I’m sorry, Kate,” he said softly.

The unexpected apology caused her to glance in his direction.

“I should have been a better father. I should have protected them.”

Kate cradled the glass of water in her hands. “It’s not your fault, Lloyd. There was nothing you could have done to prevent all this. Isn’t that what you’ve been trying to tell me all along?”

Lloyd grinned. “You’re right. I’ve been telling you to stop saying ‘sorry’ too and now, look at me. I’m going against my own piece of advice, which as far as I can tell is the first time.”

“Well, you can’t be perfect all the time.”

“Never thought I was.”

Kate set down her glass and reached for his hand. “Listen, Lloyd. I understand how you feel more than anyone. It’s hard. Heck, it’s hell. But I want you to know that I’m here for you. You don’t have to force yourself to be strong and brave in front of me.”

He chuckled. “So my cover’s already been blown off, huh?”

“You’re a good man, Lloyd. You can do so many great things and you probably don’t need anyone else, but it’s all right to be lonely sometimes. It’s all right to be human.”

“I’m human?”

It was Kate’s turn to chuckle. “You may seem like half superhero, half machine at times…

“Half machine?” He raised an eyebrow at her.

“But you’re definitely human, Lloyd Marrick.”

“Thanks, Kate.” He squeezed her hand as he smiled at her. “And you’re right. Well, mostly.”

“Mostly?”

“I need someone. I need you, Kate. Always have.”

She froze at the sudden confession, then slowly withdrew her hand from his.

“You know I’m in love with Bryan now,” she said, rubbing her arms as she felt uneasy again. “I love him.”

“Do you even know him?” he asked with a challenging look.

“I’ve known him for almost two years,” she answered confidently.

“That’s not what I was asking.”

“That’s longer than the time I knew you before we got married.”

For a second after that, he was silent, her barb seemingly effective, but he recovered quickly. “There are some things he hasn’t told you.”

She felt her heart skip a beat at the words but she forced herself to stay calm. “Everyone has secrets.”

“Not as big as his.”

She frowned. “Did you ask someone to spy on him or do a background check on him or something?”

“I was just concerned about you, Kate.”

She slapped her forehead. “Geez, you’re not my father.”

“I was afraid he might have taken the kids,” he said, looking at her. “Our kids.”

That statement made her pause. Him, too? So Agent Wilkins was not the only one suspecting Bryan? Lloyd was, too?

“You’re forgetting that Bryan was with me when I took the cruise,” she gave him the same alibi she had given Agent Wilkins.

“Precisely,” Lloyd simply said. “He was the one who invited you to take that cruise with him, wasn’t he?”

She threw him a look of disbelief. “So you’re saying he lured me away from home and then asked someone to take the kids away? And why would he do such a thing? Where would he take them?”

“I don’t know where he might have taken them,” Lloyd answered. “But as to why, there is one clear reason. He got rid of the kids because they were getting in the way.”

“Getting in the way?” Lloyd was making less and less sense. “Of what?”

“Of you and him, of course,” Lloyd explained. “Tell me, even when you started going out with Bryan, the kids always came first, didn’t they?”

“Of course,” she answered. “That’s understandable, isn’t it?”

“For a husband, perhaps it’s understandable,” he said. “But for a boyfriend, it isn’t. Jack and Lena aren’t his kids, after all.”

“But he adored them.”

“He could have just been pretending. Or enduring until he got his chance.”

“To get rid of them?” she asked him. “You really think Bryan got rid of my children?”

“I have reason to think so,” he told her.

She snorted. “You make Bryan sound like he’s some sort of wild animal who kills the offspring of his mate just so she could have his.”

“That’s not a completely inaccurate observation.”

“Bullshit.” The word just spilled out of her lips as her temper snapped. “Bryan isn’t an animal. He’s a good man.”

“And I told you he’s not everything you think he is,” he told her.

“Oh yeah? So what exactly is this big secret you think Bryan’s hiding from me?”

Lloyd glanced at the sliding door, which was still closed, nobody peering through it, and then at her. “It will be better if you find it out for yourself.”

She crossed her arms over her chest and pouted. “Great. Just great.”

For a while, they were both silent, the silence this time heavier than the last as Kate fumed. Then, unable to keep quiet any longer, she spoke.

“You’re just jealous.”

“Well, I won’t say that I’m not,” he said.

She paused, the admission not what she had expected. Lloyd was jealous of Bryan?

“You were the one who let me go, you know,” she told him.