Coveting Love (Jessica Crawford) (33 page)

He proceeded to fill him in on the details of Jessica’s disappearance. “So you see, she left on what was assumed to be a quick errand to mail a letter, but without her pocketbook,” he added.

“
And you say she has been gone for over eight hours.” Phillip nodded. “I see why you’re so concerned.” He tapped his lip with his index finger, thoughtful. “Well, normally, this wouldn’t classify as a missing persons incident since eight hours really isn’t that long. However, I think that given the circumstances, and the fact that she is a guest, and not familiar with our country, we might need to look into this. Now, is there somebody she might have tried to get in touch with if she were in some kind of trouble?”

Phillip shook his head. “No, I’m afraid not. As I explained earlier, Miss Crawford is a guest in my home. She and her friend here are from the States. They are doing some work with me.”

He wrote down a description. “Okay, Mr. Stewart. I think I have enough information for now. I’ll get right on trying to find her. If she should happen to check in with you, please let me know right away. Oh, it would be of some help if anyone has a picture of her.”

They all looked at each other, and then shook their heads. “I’m afraid once again we have to say, ‘no,’ Lieutenant.”

“
Well, it would have been nice, but it isn’t vital.” He turned to leave. “I can see myself out. My advice to all of you is, stay here in case she tries to call, and try to get some sleep. I’ll check in with you in the morning.”

“
He’s right,” Phillip said after the lieutenant had left. “There’s nothing else we can do tonight. Why don’t we all get some sleep? Tomorrow we can take turns searching for her.”

He started to leave the room, but noticed John wasn’t following. Instead, he was standing off in the corner dialing on his cell phone. He ran and grabbed it from him.

“
What are you doing, John?” he snapped.

John attempted to retrieve the cell phone, but Phillip held it away from him. “Hey, man, what’s up? Give me back that cell phone.”

“
Whom are you calling?”

“
I’m calling Brandon. He’ll want to know about this.”

“
I don’t think that is wise; you’ll worry him sick. It’s too early yet to be calling her family. I’m confident she’ll come walking in that door any minute.”

“
I don’t think so. I have a bad feeling about this. Something has happened to Jessica, and Brandon would want to know.”

“
And just what do you think he is going to do from New York? Why don’t you just sleep on it, and if she still isn’t back in the morning, you can call him then.” He handed the phone back to him. “What do you say, John. You’re a sensible man; surely you can see that I’m right.”

John hesitated for a moment, and then conceded. “I guess you’re right, but I’m calling first thing in the morning.”

Phillip slapped him on the back. “That’s right. You can start calling first thing in the morning. Now, why don’t you turn in? Tomorrow is going to be a long day. We’ll need all our strength if we’re going to help the police look for Jessica.”

“
I just feel as though I should be doing something tonight.”

“
We are doing something. We’re letting the police do their job. Believe me, they have more contacts, and know more places to look than we can possibly imagine. What good does it do Jessica if you go out searching and get lost as well?”

“
I see your point, but I still don’t feel right. And I know I won’t be able to sleep.”

“
Then just rest.”

John said good night and then climbed the stairs to his room, defeated.

After he left, Phillip sneaked into the kitchen to prepare a basket for Jessica. He mounted the stairs as if going to his room. Then, using the secret panel, he slipped quietly into the locked room across from Jessica’s room.

Jessica heard the sliding of the panel. It was dark in the room so she couldn’t see it open. A light passed through the door. She blinked as her eyes adjusted to the sudden light. Her visitor held it high against his face. Even though she knew it would be Phillip, her heart sank.

“
What’s the matter? Surely, you didn’t expect someone else. I assure you no one knows you’re here. They all think some dreadful accident has happened. I even managed to convince them I was worried about you. It wasn’t too difficult, because I really am worried about you shut up in here. I only wish things had turned out differently for us. Then none of this would have been necessary.

He sniffed the air. I’m sorry it smells so awful in here. Unfortunately, I can’t do anything about that.

“
You can let me out.”

He ignored her reply. “Here, I brought you something to eat, and some blankets to keep you warm. I’m sorry I couldn’t get away any sooner.”

She watched him set the basket down on the table beside her. She was hungry, but she wasn’t going to admit it to him. She looked at him crossly. “You don’t honestly think you’re going to pull this off. Do you?”

He smiled. “I had my doubts at first, but you played right along. You really helped me out.”

“
How?” she asked.

“
First, you did me a great service by having the consideration to advise Mrs. Grayson of your departure, and by rejecting her offer of providing you with an escort. Then you slipped John a note telling him where you were going, and finally, you left without your pocketbook.”

Her shoulders slumped in depression, aware of what her actions had left the others believing. “I can understand the first two errors, but I really don’t see what leaving my pocketbook behind has to do with this.”

“
Ah, but don’t you? By leaving your pocketbook behind, you have given everyone the impression that you left this house without any identification. So, if you had become injured, or worse, then no one would know how to identify you. Australia is a large place. So you see, everyone thinks you’re either lost or hurt. I have them convinced you’re lying in a hospital somewhere, with no means of identification.”

He smiled reassuringly at her gaping face. “Don’t worry, dear. You’re in loving hands. I assure you, no harm is going to come to you.” He moved toward the door, picking up the light as he did.

“
Wait,” she called after him. He turned to face her. “Please let me go. I can’t bear it in here. I am so lonely, and it smells so bad.” She wrinkled her nose to show her distaste.

He looked sadly down on her. “I am sorry. If you only had loved me, then I would never have had to do this to you. Now, just go lie down and get some sleep. Tomorrow you will feel much better.”

“
Phillip,” she called, as he turned to leave again. He turned to look at her. “Will you at least leave the light? I’m frightened in the dark.”

He shook his head. “I can’t do that. The boards in here are very old; it would be dangerous. It wouldn’t take much to start this place on fire. I couldn’t bear anything happening to you.” He reached up and caressed her cheek, then bent down and kissed her gently where his fingers had touched. “Perhaps tomorrow I could bring you a flashlight, but for now, we must both try to get some sleep. I must be bright and fresh to join in the search for you tomorrow morning.”

He turned to leave again. This time she did not stop him. Fumbling in the dark, she managed to find her way back to the bed and flung herself down on top of it. Despite the darkness, and with the help of the slight hint of the moon streaming through the window, her eyes began to adjust. She could just see the outline of the basket on the table next to her. Her stomach began to rumble at the thought of food; she hadn’t eaten all day.

She reached up and pulled the basket close to her. She had missed a good dinner, she noted, as she savored the roasted chicken and bread slices that Phillip had packed for her. She was amazed to find that she was able to eat all the food and drink half the bottle of wine.

With a satisfied stomach, she was able to lie back and think calmly. She thought of Brandon, wondering what he was doing right then. She had not been able to make contact with him since her departure from New York. She longed to hear the sound of his voice. How would he take the news of her supposed demise? Would he just merely accept the fact that she was lost, or was their love strong enough to bring him searching for her? She didn’t doubt their love, but she had to be honest and admit that what Phillip was suggesting could easily have happened. Oh, why had she been so stupid?

She thought of her mother. She was never going to see her happy. Would she accept Phillip’s story? She had fought hard to hide her fear of Phillip from her. She hadn’t wanted her to worry.

She could never love Phillip. What would he do to her when he finally realized that? She was terribly frightened. She felt tears slide down her cheek, rolling into her hair. She reached up and wiped them away. She wept for herself, and for the people she loved. She felt hopeless, drained of all energy and will to go on. This room was her prison, one she would probably remain in for the rest of her short life.

This feeling was to be even stronger two days later, when she still was confined to her prison. Phillip visited her every day, bringing more food, and the flashlight he had promised. Time slipped into a week, and she finally began to have hope.

She was lying on the bed, singing every song for which she could remember the lyrics, trying to pass time, or hold on to her sanity. It was late in the afternoon. She could tell this because of the way the shadows did their daily dance on the wall. It had become a game to her, trying to guess what time it was. She kept track of the days on the paper and pencil she had begged from Phillip. One day he brought her a diary. “So you can write in it, like my grandmother.” She threw it at him. He picked it up and tossed it on the bed. “You might change your mind about it, eventually.”

At least he gave her everything she asked for—except her freedom. She was thinking of ways to convince him to allow her this as well, when she heard voices in the next room. They were muffled, so it was hard to distinguish to whom they belonged. They were shouting, though, that she could tell. Perhaps Phillip had confessed and they were on their way to rescue her.

She sprang from the bed in a hasty attempt to make it to the other side, forgetting the rotting floorboards. Suddenly, her foot slipped through, causing her to fall. Wincing in pain, she pulled her foot from the gaping hole in the floor, cradling it gently to her. She cried out, hoping someone would hear her, but it was useless. She was too far from the door. In addition, she was too weak from her captivity to make herself heard.

Gritting her teeth, she managed to pull herself up on all fours. She dragged her body the remainder of the distance to the sliding door. She banged wildly on it, screaming with all her might. She slumped back against the door in exhaustion. It was too late. Whoever had been in there was gone now. She cried hysterically, somehow managing to pull herself back to the bed.

Her foot throbbed with pain. She pulled off her shoe. The light was dim now, but she could see well enough to know it was already swelling. At least it’s not broken. She thought with relief.

Some time later, she heard the door sliding open. She knew, just as every other night, Phillip would be the one to walk through the door. She was right again, but tonight something was different. She noted with disappointment that he didn’t carry a basket of food with him. She was hungry and had been looking forward to the food. He also seemed angry. He confirmed her suspicions when he confessed that it had been he in the room earlier, arguing with someone.

“
What is it?” she asked. “What’s happened?”

He held the light toward her. “Oh, Jessica,” he wailed. “The most distressing thing has happened.” He stopped, suddenly noticing the strange way she cradled her foot. He came to sit beside her. “What happened to your foot?” he asked, concerned.

She pointed to the floor where she had left the hole.

“
I fell through the floor, over there.”

He rubbed his hand gently and lovingly over her foot. “You poor dear, does it hurt badly?” She nodded in affirmation.

“
I told you to be careful in here.”

“
I forgot.”

“
I came to tell you the terrible news. That meddling man has come to find you. He just refuses to believe you are gone. This is going to be more difficult than I had imagined. I can’t understand why he is being so stubborn about this. Why can’t he just leave us alone to be happy?”

“
Who, Phillip, whom are you talking about?” she asked, hopeful.

“
That Phillips guy. He showed up here a couple of days ago, and he won’t leave until you’re found. I knew I should have staged an accident instead, but that was too complicated. I thought for sure this would work.”

“
Brandon is here?” she asked, trying to conceal her excitement. She couldn’t believe it; he was so close, yet so far from her. It must have been him in the other room she had heard arguing with Phillip. “What you are going to do now?” she asked.

He stared at her and sighed. “I don’t know yet, I have to think. I don’t want to kill him; that gets terribly risky.”

At this suggestion, she panicked. “You don’t want to do that, Phillip; it’s much too dangerous. What if they catch you, then what would happen to me?” Her voice low and mournful, she begged, “Please don’t kill him.”

He stared at her, disappointment and acknowledgment showing in his eyes. “You still have feelings for him.”